When Did Facebook Change Its Name to Meta?

Meta’s newsroom post “Introducing Meta: A Social Technology Company” is dated 28 October 2021. It says CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta at Connect 2021, bringing the company’s apps and technologies under one new company brand. A filing Meta made with the SEC that day says Facebook, Inc. changed its corporate name to Meta Platforms, Inc. on 28 October 2021.

What did Meta announce on 28 October 2021?

The post says Meta’s focus would be to bring the metaverse to life and help people connect, find communities and grow businesses. It also says Facebook launched in 2004 and that apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world.

Two lines matter most to an advertiser. The post says “Our corporate structure is not changing”, although how Meta reports its financials would, and it says the announcement “does not affect how we use or share data”. The post does not announce any change to ad products.

What did the SEC filing say?

The Form 8-K filed on 28 October 2021 says the company changed its corporate name to Meta Platforms, Inc. under an amended and restated certificate of incorporation filed with the Delaware Secretary of State that day. It says a shareholder vote was not necessary. It also says the only change to the certificate and bylaws was the corporate name.

So the filing describes a rename, and the newsroom post says the corporate structure was not changing. Neither document describes a change to ad products.

What changed in how Meta reports its business?

The post and the filing both say Meta would report two segments from the fourth quarter of 2021: Family of Apps and Reality Labs. The filing says Family of Apps includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and other services.

Meta’s annual report for 2025 says it currently generates substantially all of its revenue from selling advertising placements on its family of apps to marketers. It lists Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads and WhatsApp among the places ads can appear. Those are the placements you buy as an advertiser.

How do you see the name in ad tools today?

Meta’s current help page about shops ads uses the Meta name for its ad tools. It tells you how to create a shops ad in “Meta Ads Manager” and gives tips for using your “Meta Pixel”.

Use that as a practical check. If a guide, agency report or old screenshot uses a different product name, open Meta’s current help page for the tool before you follow it.

FAQ

Does the Meta name change affect my ad targeting?

Meta’s announcement says it “does not affect how we use or share data”. That sentence is about the rename itself, not about later targeting or measurement changes, which Meta announced separately.

Is Meta a different company from Facebook, Inc.?

No. Meta’s 8-K says Facebook, Inc. changed its corporate name to Meta Platforms, Inc. and that the only change to its charter documents was the name. The company’s 2021 annual report says the same: in October 2021 it changed its corporate name from Facebook, Inc. to Meta Platforms, Inc.

Can I still advertise on Facebook?

Yes. Meta’s annual report for 2025 says marketers can purchase ads that appear in multiple places including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads and WhatsApp, as well as third-party applications and websites. Your placements and availability depend on your campaign settings and Meta’s current rules.