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Chinese web users think Meta's logo is a WeChat rip-off

Meta isn't the only one with its eyes on the metaverse.

Chinese web users think Meta's logo is a WeChat rip-off

Some Chinese web users think that logo looks a little familiar.

Image: Meta

The new Meta logo has dispelled a feeling of déjà vu among Chinese web users since Facebook announced its major rebrand: It resembles the logo of WeChat Channels, a short-video feature embedded within China's largest social media platform.

Both logos look like an evolution from the infinite loop symbol "∞," only that the WeChat Channels logo is face-up and in orange, and the Meta logo is face-down and in blue. On Chinese social media, netizens reacted to the confusing similarity of the two logos by mockingly calling the Meta logo "an inverted WeChat Channels [logo]." Some joked that Meta intentionally copied the logo of WeChat Channels, a feature WeChat launched in early 2020.

Facebook's big rebranding reflects Mark Zuckerberg's big-picture plans for the metaverse. Like Meta, Chinese tech giant Tencent, WeChat's parent company, is also going gung-ho about metaverse. In September alone, Tencent applied for nearly 100 metaverse-related trademarks, according to Chinese financial publication Yicai.

Shen Lu

Shen Lu is a former Protocol reporter, covering China's tech industry.

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