‘Very… meta’: Facebook rebrand is fodder for internet humor
Social media giant’s decision to change company name to Meta unleashes a torrent of hilarity on Twitter; critics say move just aims to distract from scandals
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WASHINGTON — Facebook’s announcement Thursday that the company would henceforth be called Meta unleashed a torrent of hilarity on Twitter from companies, people and even the social media giant itself.
While critics pummelled Facebook over the change, claiming the rebranding aims to distract from the company’s scandals, the internet still had a good laugh.
Here are some highlights of the meme and pun-fueled wisecracks:
Changing name to Meat
Meat jokes were all the rage, with US hamburger chain Wendy’s tweeting shortly after the news: “Changing name to Meat.”
Remaining true to its word, the chain did just that — but only on its Twitter profile.
Changing name to Meat
— Wendy’s (@Wendys) October 28, 2021
A tweeting wit under the handle @NicoTheMemeDude queried: “Is this the beginning of the Meataverse?”
To which Wendy’s retorted: “very meta.”
Meta’s newly minted Twitter account, which already accrued 13.5 million followers, cordially chimed in: “Nice to meat you, @Wendys.”
Sounds like a drug
Though Meta will just be the name of the parent company, and the app will still be called Facebook, some observers were concerned.
“How can you tell anyone that you’re on Meta. Sounds like a drug,” wrote @careaware.
Meh was taken
The social network’s new name spurred plenty of disappointment too.
“Why did Facebook pick ‘Meta’? ‘Meh’ was taken,” wrote @maxgoff.
Meta… World Peace?
A former pro basketball player who many know as Metta World Peace, the distinct handle he gave himself in 2011, was quickly pulled into the fray.
“Facebook’s new full name is Meta World Peace,” wrote @darrenrovell.
“I only recognize one metta @MettaWorld37,” @MylesMaNJ opined, to which the former Laker, born Ron Artest, replied simply: “lol”.
Very… meta
For lots of people, meta will forever describe something that refers back to or is about itself, like a film about people making a film about filmmaking.
“Everyone posting about Facebook on Twitter is very… meta,” wrote @JohnRush32.
Not the problem
Despite the jokes, Facebook’s critics were not amused by the name change, which they argued dodges the real issue.
“The name was never the problem,” wrote an activist group calling itself The Real Facebook Oversight Board.
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