Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, plans to reduce its global workforce by 5%. This translates to about 3,600 roles, focusing on quickly removing underperforming employees. However, Meta intends to replace these roles later in 2025.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, shared this decision in a memo, describing the cuts as an accelerated version of the company’s regular performance reviews. “This will be an intense year, and we need the best people on our teams,” he wrote. The company employs approximately 72,000 people worldwide but has not disclosed the geographic breakdown of the reductions.

Workers to Learn Their Fate Soon

In the U.S., affected employees will be notified by February 10, while those in other countries will receive updates later. Zuckerberg emphasized the importance of raising performance standards and swiftly addressing low productivity. The affected employees will be offered “generous severance” packages, he added.

The latest cuts follow similar moves in recent years. In 2023, Meta eliminated 10,000 jobs during a cost-cutting initiative, dubbed the “year of efficiency.” This followed a reduction of 11,000 roles in 2022.

Strategic Shifts and Leadership Rebranding

This workforce reduction aligns with broader strategic shifts at Meta, including the termination of its fact-checking and diversity initiatives. These changes reflect Zuckerberg’s evolving leadership style. Recently, he highlighted his interest in martial arts, linking it to personal expression and a push for what he termed “masculine energy.”

“When you’re running a company, people don’t expect you to show a ruthless side,” Zuckerberg remarked during a podcast with Joe Rogan. “But in fighting, it’s different. People see the real Mark.”

These job cuts mark another chapter in Meta’s restructuring, signaling a commitment to efficiency and a leaner, more competitive workforce.