Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, plans to lay off approximately 3,600 employees, according to an internal memo. The 2025 layoffs, attributed to poor performance, will affect around 5% of the company’s workforce. However, new hires will replace those being let go. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, defended the decision, stating that it allows the company to bring in better talent.
As of September, Meta employed around 72,400 people. Zuckerberg described the layoffs as a measure to elevate management standards and remove underperformers, a practice common among American companies. Microsoft recently took similar action, laying off 1% of its employees due to poor performance.
I have decided to raise the management level in the company and remove poor performing employees.
– Mark Zuckerberg
Political Dynamics and Changes in Strategy
These 2025 Meta layoffs come just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, amid reports of Zuckerberg’s growing alignment with Republican leaders. Notable developments include a dinner with Trump and appointing a Republican as Meta’s head of public affairs.
Last week, Zuckerberg also announced the closure of Meta’s fact-checking program in the United States, which had faced criticism from conservatives accusing the platform of suppressing their voices. Meta plans to implement a system allowing users to add context to posts, similar to the feature on Elon Musk’s platform, X. Content moderation policies on Facebook and Instagram have also been relaxed.
Also Read: Microsoft ‘s Job Security in India Amid Global Layoff
AI and Workforce Restructuring
Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg revealed Meta’s ambitions to develop advanced AI systems capable of handling complex coding tasks, 2025 Meta layoffs potentially replacing midlevel software engineers by 2025. This marks a significant shift in Meta’s approach to software development.
Meta’s stock fell on Tuesday following the announcement, reflecting investor concerns about the company’s direction. The tech industry as a whole is increasing its investment in AI technology, with companies like Cisco and IBM also focusing on this area. Meta has invested heavily in AI infrastructure, with its expenses projected to rise this year.
This move follows a series of restructuring efforts at Meta, including the elimination of 11,000 positions in 2022 and 10,000 additional roles in 2023, which Zuckerberg had labeled as the “Year of Efficiency.”