Meta
In short
Meta Platforms, Inc. is a global technology company that owns and operates major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
In plain words
It is a massive company that makes apps for chatting and sharing photos. They are also spending a lot of money building virtual reality tools and artificial intelligence.
A simple example
When you scroll through your Instagram feed or send a message on WhatsApp, you are using products owned by Meta.
Why it matters
The company controls how billions of people communicate and see news every day. Their decisions on privacy and technology shape the modern internet.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse Meta the company with the metaverse, which is the virtual world they are trying to build.