Meta cuts 8,000 jobs in sweeping global layoffs

May 21, 2026 - 03:56

Meta has halted hiring for 6,000 vacant positions as part of a broader restructuring that includes cutting 8,000 jobs worldwide. The move comes as the social media giant shifts resources away from traditional operations and pours investment into artificial intelligence development.

The layoffs, which began this week, target teams across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Employees in content moderation, marketing, and some engineering divisions have been affected. The company cited a need to streamline management layers and reduce costs after years of rapid hiring during the pandemic.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg described 2025 as a "year of efficiency" in an internal memo. He emphasized that AI tools will reshape how Meta builds products and moderates content. The company plans to redirect savings from the cuts into AI research, data center expansion, and new generative AI features for its apps.

This is the third major round of job cuts at Meta since late 2023. The company has now eliminated roughly 30,000 positions in total. Analysts say the layoffs reflect a broader trend in big tech, where companies are trimming workforces to focus on high-growth areas like AI while scaling back on experimental projects and hiring.

Affected employees will receive severance packages, including 16 weeks of pay plus two additional weeks for each year of service. Meta also said it will provide career transition support. However, the cuts have sparked criticism from labor groups who argue that the company is prioritizing shareholder returns over worker stability.