Meta Platforms is preparing to cut approximately 8,000 jobs, affecting about 10 per cent of its workforce, and cancel 6,000 open roles in May as it shifts resources toward artificial intelligence development. The company, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, employed over 78,000 people at the end of 2025. The decision was detailed in an internal memo shared with staff on Thursday, signed by chief people officer Janelle Gale. She acknowledged the difficulty of the move, stating, "This is not an easy trade-off. It will mean letting go of people who have made meaningful contributions to Meta during their time here." CEO Mark Zuckerberg has long argued that AI systems will eventually take over many tech roles, including software engineering, through tools like AI coding assistants. Since rebranding from Facebook to Meta Platforms in 2021, the company has focused on building the "metaverse" and integrating AI across its apps. It has introduced generative AI features for content creation and embedded AI assistants into messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. Previous downsizing occurred in 2022, 2023, and again in March 2025 with about 700 employees let go, followed by an additional 1,000 to 1,500 job cuts in January. Despite the reductions, Meta reported $200.97 billion in revenue for 2025, with its core apps generating $24.7 billion in operating income in the final quarter. The company forecasts first-quarter 2026 revenue between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion.
Mark Zuckerberg is eliminating 14,000 roles while projecting rising revenue, exposing the contradiction between workforce reduction and financial growth. Nigerian users of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp may face fewer support options despite increasing reliance on these platforms for business and communication. The company's AI push offers no guarantee of local language compatibility or relevance to African content creators. Efficiency gains at Meta do not translate to job creation in markets like Nigeria, where digital livelihoods depend on these tools.
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