Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has initiated layoffs across several of its departments, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and its Reality Labs division. These layoffs, although not on the same large scale as previous cuts, come as part of Meta’s broader restructuring efforts. The reorganization has affected specific teams, and some employees have already shared their experiences of being let go online.
One notable figure impacted by these layoffs is Jane Manchun Wong, a well-known tech insider who gained recognition for revealing upcoming app features before they were officially announced. Wong, who joined Meta’s Threads team in 2023, announced her layoff via the Threads platform, adding a personal dimension to the ongoing changes at Meta.
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According to Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold, the company is making adjustments to better align its resources with long-term strategic goals and location strategies. “This includes moving some teams to different locations and moving some employees to different roles,” Arnold explained. In cases where a position is eliminated, Meta aims to assist impacted employees in finding other opportunities within the company.
This round of layoffs is part of a broader trend at Meta, which has been adjusting its workforce after experiencing overly optimistic growth projections following the pandemic. In 2022, Meta laid off 11,000 employees, followed by additional cuts in 2023 as the company sought to become more efficient. Earlier this year, there were also smaller cuts in Meta’s Reality Labs division, which is responsible for the company’s virtual reality and augmented reality ventures.
The layoffs are a reflection of Meta’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and focus on its long-term strategic vision, while balancing innovation and profitability across its various platforms.