Meta lays off 4,000 ‘underperformers’: What we know so far

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has begun executing its latest round of brutal layoffs, cutting approximately 5 per cent of its workforce – about 4,000 people – in a move CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously framed as a drive for "stronger talent." 

According to USA Today, the tech giant is replacing the ousted employees with machine learning engineers, doubling down on its AI ambitions.

The so-called “performance terminations”, first announced in mid-January, sent shockwaves through Meta’s workforce as employees braced for their fate. 

Termination notices

On Monday morning, termination notices were set to hit inboxes across the US and several other countries, Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton confirmed to USA Today.

However, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands are shielded from the layoffs due to local labor protections.

Meanwhile, staff in over a dozen other nations across Europe, Asia, and Africa are expected to receive their pink slips between February 11-18, according to an internal memo by Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, cited by Reuters.

US media reported, however, that Meta's job cuts surprised some employees who said they weren't low performers

The move is the latest in Zuckerberg’s relentless pursuit of a leaner, AI-driven future — one where machine-learning expertise trumps humans.

The stock added more than 17 per cent over the surge, bringing its market capitalisation above $1.8 trillion.

Employees affected by the sweep took to social media to post their sentiments.

A post on X reads: “Meta just turfed 3600 people. Wonder if AI is starting to do what everyone thought it would but no one wants to say it out loud?”

“Shocked they laid off high performers”.

In a post also on X, @TeamBlind stated: “Meta is laying off 5% of its 'lowest performers,' cutting around 4,000 jobs starting today. This follows Mark Zuckerberg's announcement that the company will 'move out low performers faster,' stating that 2025 will be an intense year for Meta.”

On Tuesday, by @Brii_toe_knee, claimed: “Unfortunately, after 5 years, I was impacted by the Meta layoffs today.” 

Timing questioned

Personal coach Bruce Kanasoff, writing on LinkedIn, questioned the timing of the layoffs and stated the move is happening in the face of “unprecedented wealth”.

“Facebook this week is laying off perhaps as many as 4,000 employees. Officially framed as targeting ‘low performers’, these layoffs are likely part of a broader effort to streamline and refocus the company’s workforce. 

The timing and context suggest something more calculated: an intentional reduction in human labor as AI tools become increasingly capable of filling the gaps.”

On Tuesday, Bloomberg's Market Daily reported that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company plans to invest “as much as $65 billion in AI projects this year, more than had been expected — reinforcing the perception it is spending from a place of strength.”

Stock surges

Facebook's stock has surged for 16 straight sessions — the longest streak for any Nasdaq 100 company since 1990. During this rally, shares jumped over 17%, pushing its market value past $1.8 trillion.