WhatsApp, Instagram To Carry Facebook Name

Facebook is adding its name to Instagram and WhatsApp as part of a rebranding aimed at unifying all three apps, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday (Aug. 2).

A “From Facebook” tag will be added to Instagram and WhatsApp brands, and the Facebook name will be visible in all marketing.

“We want to be clearer about the products and services that are part of Facebook,” spokeswoman Bertie Thomson said in an email to WSJ.

Jane Wong, an app researcher and tech blogger, first revealed the “From Facebook” branding in March. At the time, Facebook said it was testing the change on a limited set of users.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company wants users to be able to communicate across its three central platforms, WSJ said.

“Instagram from Facebook” and “WhatsApp from Facebook” will be the new names from now on, reflected first in the App Store and Play Store, The Information reported on Aug. 2. The move will bring Instagram and WhatsApp in line with Workplace, Portal and Oculus, all of which incorporate Facebook into their marketing.

The social media giant bought Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion. WhatsApp cost Facebook $19 billion a few years later. Instagram dropped its standalone direct messaging app Direct, which debuted in December 2017 and rolled out in a select number of places, including Uruguay, Chile, Turkey, Italy, Portugal and Israel.

Facebook is close to launching its WhatsApp payments service in India. The service has been in beta mode in India for 1 million users, but the nationwide debut has been delayed due to government regulations. Despite its popularity, WhatsApp has also faced criticism in India, with its messaging service used to spread fake news and rumors, including some that led to almost two dozen lynchings in the country.