Meta prepares for mass layoffs as part of performance review

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is preparing to cut approximately 5% of its global workforce as part of an effort to remove underperforming employees more swiftly. The company, which employs around 72,000 people worldwide, is expediting its regular performance-based cuts in response to anticipated challenges in the coming year.

The job cuts, expected to affect thousands of employees, will be followed by a planned replacement of roles later in 2025. While Meta has not provided details on how the reductions will be distributed globally, employees in the United States are set to receive notifications by February 10. Those in other countries will be informed at a later date.

This decision follows other major actions taken by Meta, including the discontinuation of its fact-checking and diversity programs. The company has framed these moves as part of a broader strategy to enhance team performance and streamline operations during what it anticipates to be an intense year. Performance-based job cuts are a common practice in corporate America. At Meta, this process typically unfolds over a year, but the company has opted to accelerate the timeline to align with its strategic goals for the year ahead.