Instagram and Whatsapp will change their names

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook and owner of Instagram and Whatsapp, has announced a (formal) change for two of the most popular apps in the world. The main aim is to change their names in order to make the property of the apps clear. According to The Information, which first spread the news, soon, both apps will become "Instagram from Facebook" and "WhatsApp from Facebook". Bertie Thomson, a representant of Facebook company, confirmed the decision, explaining:

We want to be clearer about the products and services that are part of Facebook.

If you're wondering what this change will mean for users, the answer is nothing. The change, in fact, will not influence any of the functions of the apps and, at least for now, it is purely aesthetic. The new names will only be applied to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, but will not appear on the app's home screens. 

Zuckerberg's move has caused mixed reactions. While it confirms Facebook's intention to merge its messaging platforms (WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger) allowing messages to be sent to users of the three networks, while for many experts the decision is risky. They hypothesize that the direct association of WhatsApp and Instagram with Facebook, a colossus less and less popular due to the scandals that have hit it in recent months, could cause the two apps damage of image. In particular, to support this theory there is the Federal Trade Commission that has just started an investigation to find out if the many acquisitions of Facebook (including those of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014) were made to eliminate potential future competitors, leaving the market less competitive at the disadvantage of users and other companies.