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SOCIAL MEDIA

Is ubiquitous Facebook planning a name change and a rebrand?

By our News Team | 2021

International media reports say the world’s dominant social media brand wants to be known for a wider tech contribution to society.

Facebook is planning to change its company name within the next week to reflect its focus on building the metaverse, according to international media reports.

There is speculation that the coming name change could be announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the company’s annual Connect conference on 28 October, although it may be sooner given that the seemingly credible story has been leaked and is now being widely publicised.

The story was broken on Wednesday (20 October) by The Verge, a US-based technology news website and blog. According to The Verge, the change is meant to signal the tech giant’s ambition to be known for more than social media and all the ills that entails.

Facebook plans rebrand

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

“A rebrand would likely position the blue Facebook app as one of many products under a parent company overseeing groups like Instagram, WhatsApp Oculus, and more,” the website reported.

Planned transition to a metaverse company

In a July media interview, Zuckerberg said that, over the next several years, “we will effectively transition from people seeing us as primarily being a social media company to being a metaverse company”.

The Verge notes: “A rebrand could also serve to further separate the futuristic work Zuckerberg is focused on from the intense scrutiny Facebook is currently under for the way its social platform operates today.”

Like most of us, you may be wondering what the metaverse is? The AMC’s daily marketing news service reported in September that the metaverse is a network of always-on virtual environments in which many people can interact with one another and digital objects while operating virtual representations – or avatars – of themselves. It is especially common in gaming – and now virtual concerts.

“The defining quality of the metaverse will be presence – the feeling of really being there with people… so you can remove the limitations of physics and move between them with the same ease as moving from one room in your home to the next,” we reported Facebook Reality Labs’ Andrew Bosworth as saying.

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Dr Kin Kariisa

Group CEO - Next Media

Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.