Business | About-face

Facebook’s rumoured name-change reflects ambition—and weakness

The company is more than a social network. It also has a reputation problem

WORTH NEARLY $1TRN, Facebook is the world’s sixth-most-valuable company. Its revenues have grown by 56% in the past year, and its share price by more than a quarter. Nearly 3bn people use its products every month. Why would such a glittering success change its name, as the Verge, a news site, reports it plans to within days?

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “About-face”

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