Why name change won’t erase systemic issues plaguing Facebook

New Delhi: The consumers largely remain neutral about Facebook becoming a metaverse company and if it continues to struggle in curbing issues around fake news, extremist content, consumer privacy and teen safety, then the same issues will fast follow Facebook into the metaverse, industry experts said on Friday.
Facebook continues to battle serious allegations led by whistleblower Frances Haugen and others over users’ data privacy and presence of misinformation on its platforms.
According to global market research firm Forrester, to counter the accusations, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has emphasised the company’s commitment to help bring the metaverse (as the next computing platform) to life, indicating that it would be “a major part of” Facebook’s investment going forward.
“While it’ll help alleviate confusion by distinguishing Facebook’s parent company from its founding app, a name change doesn’t suddenly erase the systemic issues plaguing the company, said Forrester VP and Research Director Mike Proulx.
“If Meta doesn’t address its issues beyond a defensive and superficial attitude, those same issues will occupy the metaverse,” he said in a statement.
Forrester has found that less than half (41 per cent) of online adults surveyed in the US say they trust Facebook (the company). In the UK, it’s just 26 per cent.