When Mark Zuckerberg announced the change of Facebook's name to Meta, many wondered how it would affect WhatsApp and Instagram. The two of them will not change their names, but the WhatsApp application has been slightly tweaked.
The WABetaInfo page found the first update for WhatsApp that reflects the new branding of Meta. This change is not so big, only in the footer that appears on the splash screen when opening the WhatsApp application.
WhatsApp users must be familiar with the words 'WhatsApp from Facebook' that appears every time they open the application. Now the text has been changed to 'WhatsApp from Meta'.
This update was first discovered in WhatsApp beta for iOS version 2.21.220.14. Not long after, the same changes were also found in
WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.21.22.21.
Not only showing a new footer on the splash screen, WhatsApp also removed the 'WhatsApp from Facebook' footer in the settings menu for Android and iOS applications, as quoted from WABetaInfo, Sunday (31/10/2021).
This change is actually not surprising considering that the Head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart had said on Twitter that WhatsApp would present an update that reflects the new name Meta in the WhatsApp application and website.
The word 'WhatsApp from Facebook' was first introduced in the WhatsApp for Android app two years ago to let users know that WhatsApp is part of Facebook. A year later, the same footer was displayed on WhatsApp for iOS.
The Instagram app on Android and iOS also displays a splash screen with the words 'from Facebook' on it. Although there has been no leak, it is likely that the Instagram splash screen will receive the same update as on WhatsApp.