Meta is a multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Formerly known as Facebook, Inc., it rebranded to Meta Platforms, Inc. in October 2021 to reflect its strategic shift toward developing the “metaverse”—a collective virtual environment integrating augmented and virtual reality. Meta owns and operates several major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, and is a major player in the fields of social networking, digital advertising, and immersive technology. Its business model largely centers on monetizing user data through targeted advertising. Meta has also invested heavily in artificial intelligence research and hardware development through projects such as Reality Labs. The company is frequently cited in discussions on privacy, misinformation, and the social impact of algorithmically curated content.

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