UPDATE: Meta has confirmed the layoffs to TechCrunch.
Meta, formerly Facebook, is expected to issue another round of mass layoffs Wednesday, according to a report from Vox that cites “several sources working at the company.” Meta has since confirmed the layoffs this week to TechCrunch, but declined to comment further.
This week’s layoffs could be in the range of 4,000 jobs, one source told Vox. They’re part of the 10,000 layoffs that CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in March, many of which relate to “low priority projects.” The mass job cuts are part of a broader restructuring at Meta that Zuckerberg has dubbed the “year of efficiency,” which began with 11,000 layoffs announced in November.
Zuckerberg had previously said April cuts would affect roles in tech departments, while another round of layoffs planned for May will hit the business side.
Some have speculated that many projects and teams within the Facebook app and Reality Labs, the unit dedicated to augmented and virtual reality experiences, will see the ax soon. However, those working on developing games might be safe for now as Meta works to market its metaverse gamble to traditional gamers, according to a report from Business Insider.
That could be a strategic pivot for Meta and Zuckerberg, both of which have promoted the metaverse as a place for social interactions, work and e-commerce. Meta poured billions into its social VR platform Horizon Worlds. However, Horizon Worlds hasn’t really taken off, with only about 200,000 monthly active users at the end of last year.
