Meta to lay off 3,600 employees as Zuckerberg focuses on efficiency

MENLO PARK, CA - Meta is cutting around 5% of its workforce — approximately 3,600 jobs — through performance-based eliminations, a spokesperson for the Menlo Park tech giant confirmed on Tuesday.

According to an internal memo, obtained by Bloomberg News, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “I’ve decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low performers faster. We typically manage out people who aren’t meeting expectations over the course of a year, but now we’re going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle.”

The layoffs are part of Meta’s broader “year of efficiency” strategy, launched in 2023, which aims to streamline operations while hiring new talent to backfill positions by the end of 2025. Zuckerberg also revealed that Meta aims for 10% “non-regrettable attrition” by the end of the current performance cycle, indicating more cuts are likely.

Zuckerberg outlined an “intense year” ahead, focused on advancing artificial intelligence, smart glasses and the future of social media.

As part of the restructuring, Meta will offer “generous severance” to affected employees, with U.S. employees expected to be notified by Feb. 10.

This announcement comes a week after the company confirmed the cancellation of its diversity, equity and inclusion program, citing recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have influenced its direction.

Meta will no longer focus on a diverse slate approach to hiring but will instead adopt “fair and consistent practices” to mitigate bias for all employees, regardless of background.

In addition, Meta has scaled back its third-party fact-checking program and loosened policies on hate speech and abuse. Zuckerberg, who announced these changes last week, said the company is prioritizing “free expression.”

As part of this shift, Meta is moving its content moderation team from California to Texas and lifting restrictions on topics such as immigration and gender. For example, the company now permits discussions that could previously be deemed harmful, such as calling gay people mentally ill, under certain conditions.

Meta is also aligning itself with the incoming Trump administration.

In December, the company donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, and Zuckerberg dined with the President-elect at his Mar-a-Lago club. Last week, Zuckerberg appointed Trump ally Dana White, UFC CEO, to Meta’s board.

Facebook remains the most-used social media platform in the U.S., reaching 68% of adults, though teen usage has dropped to 32%. Meta began its fact-checking program in 2016, in response to criticism over “fake news” during Trump’s first election campaign. (Source: San Francisco Chronicle)