Why Facebook wants to rename Instagram, WhatsApp?

Two widely used apps WhatsApp and Instagram – both now owned by Facebook, will have their name changed across the Google Play Store and Apple Store and in their display icons. Soon, Instagram will be called ‘Instagram from Facebook’ and WhatsApp will be known as ‘WhatsApp from Facebook.

While Instagram was acquired by Facebook in 2012, the social media giant acquired WhatsApp two years later. Both these apps were till now available as their respective names – WhatsApp and Instagram without the ‘Facebook’ tag.

But, why the tech giant decided to rename both these apps. Facebook wants to display its ownership of the two most influential social media apps. Well, it seems like the company wants to have total control on both these apps. It did the same thing with Oculus VR and named it to Oculus VR from Facebook.

In the next few weeks, users will see a 'from Facebook' label on the app store listings. The rebranding information has now been confirmed by the company itself.

‘We want to be clearer about the products and services that are part of Facebook,’ said a spokesperson. While many users criticized the move by launching several tweets, some called it a ‘bad move.’

Since the acquisition, the tech giant has made several changes to the functionality of both these apps, which have been criticized heavily by users.

While Instagram was created to showcase photography, WhatsApp was used to connect with loved ones. In the past few years, the company has been actively using these platforms to push advertising and are now transformed into money-making platforms for the social media giant. Some of the features in Instagram such as Stories, polls, surveys, short videos, have been introduced by Facebook that helps advertisers reach more audience and to increase sales.

The company has already launched WhatsApp for Business and in the coming years, stories will also be introduced on Whatsapp.