WhatsApp and Instagram teams face job cuts in Meta overhaul

Meta has started implementing layoffs across various departments, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs, according to sources familiar with the matter. As The Verge reports, unlike previous large-scale layoffs, these job cuts are more targeted, coinciding with team reorganizations.

Several employees, including Jane Manchun Wong—known for reporting on unreleased app features before joining Meta's Threads team in 2023—have confirmed their layoffs on social media.

In a statement to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold said, “Today, a few teams at Meta are making changes to ensure resources are aligned with their long-term strategic goals and location strategy. This includes moving some teams to different locations and reassigning employees. In cases where roles are eliminated, we work hard to find new opportunities for affected employees.”

This latest round of layoffs follows earlier cuts in Meta’s Reality Labs division this year. The company had previously laid off 11,000 employees in 2022 after overestimating its growth post-pandemic. Another 10,000 job cuts were announced in 2023 as part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's "year of efficiency."

[Information sourced from The Verge]