Meta Platforms, Inc. has initiated another round of layoffs. The company, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, made the cuts on Wednesday. These layoffs affected multiple teams as Meta reallocated resources within the organization. Meta said these job cuts align with its long-term strategic goals. Employees from teams across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs faced the impact.
Meta layoffs hit WhatsApp, Instagram & Reality Labs
Meta confirmed that the layoffs targeted various departments According to a statement provided to TechCrunch, a Meta spokesperson explained the reasoning behind the decision. “Today, a few teams at Meta are making changes to ensure resources are aligned with their long-term strategic goals and location strategy,” the spokesperson said. The company clarified that some teams were relocated, while others saw role eliminations, leading to employee transitions within the organization.
In addition to Reality Labs, workers from WhatsApp and Instagram were among those affected. Meta did not specify the exact number of layoffs but hinted at a significant impact.
Dave Arnold, a Meta spokesperson, also commented on the changes in a statement to The Verge. “In situations like this, when a role is eliminated, we work hard to find other opportunities for impacted employees,” he said. Despite the company’s efforts, many affected workers took to social media, revealing they had been let go in brief video calls.
Meta confirmed that Threads, recruiting, and legal operations were unaffected by recent organizational changes. However, the company declined to disclose the number of employees impacted or the specific departments involved. A former employee revealed that some affected individuals were offered alternative positions or severance packages. Several employees chose to accept the severance packages.
Jane Manchun Wong, a notable figure who joined Meta’s Threads team in 2023, is among the employees who disclosed her departure on social media. “I’m still trying to process this but I’m informed that my role at Meta has been impacted. Thank you to everyone, especially my Threads and Instagram teammates, for my wild journey at Meta,” she wrote on Threads.
Meta’s history of workforce reductions
The layoffs are not the first for the tech giant. In 2022, the company reduced its workforce by 13%, cutting approximately 11,000 jobs. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, publicly accepted responsibility for the significant workforce reduction. Another round followed in 2023, with an additional 10,000 employees laid off and 5,000 open positions withdrawn.
Meta’s recent layoffs at WhatsApp, Instagram, and other divisions show a continued focus on streamlining operations to support its long-term vision. The company seems determined to realign resources and cut costs, despite previous significant workforce reductions.