We don't have to let them steal a word from the English language, that belongs to all of us. We don't have to let them cause confusion. Just don't call it the name they want you to call it.
Agree. Though, in my outsider perception Alphabet == Google + a bunch of failed stuff + self driving cars.
Whereas Meta == Facebook + an absurd $$$$$ attempt to convince the public wearing headsets is revolutionary + forget about that whole destroying society thing.
At least the self driving cars might have positive net impact.
afaik, Youtube, Android, and many other bits are still technically under Google organizationally. It's mostly the outside investments that ended up under Alphabet (hence the structure).
Whether it's OK for a company to co-opt an English word for its name depends on how much confusion and inelegance it causes. I didn't have a problem with their original name.
That said, "facebook" was not in my vocabulary as a native American English speaker, and I'd wager that was true for over 99% of Americans. My impression is that it's something that only existed at Ivy League schools. Perhaps regular colleges also had them? Maybe someone could fill me in on that.
