Meta cuts jobs at Instagram, WhatsApp and Reality Labs divisions

Meta, known for operating Facebook and other companies, has announced that it has made cuts to its Instagram, WhatsApp and Reality Labs divisions. The cuts are not company-wide, but are for the purpose of restructuring.

Meta is laying off employees at WhatsApp, Instagram, and more - The Verge

Meta lays off employees across multiple teams | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/meta-lays-off-employees-across-multiple-teams/

The layoffs took place on October 16, 2024 local time. Meta has a variety of services including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, but it is known that the people in charge of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Reality Labs were the targets.

Among the recipients is Jane Manchun Wong, an engineer known for her work investigating and publishing unreleased features of Internet services and apps, who joined Meta in 2023 and joined the Threads team . Wong said, 'I'm grateful to my teammates at Threads and Instagram,' and called on anyone who wants to work with her on software or security engineering to contact her on her personal website or LinkedIn.

Meta spokesman Dave Arnold sent a statement to news sites The Verge, TechCrunch and others explaining, 'Several teams at Meta are currently undergoing changes to ensure resources are aligned with our long-term strategic goals and positioning strategy. These moves may include moving some teams elsewhere and shifting some employees to different roles.'

One former employee told TechCrunch that they were given the option to take another position under a new contract or leave with a severance package, and several chose to leave.

It is unclear how many employees are affected by the layoffs. Meta is cutting 11,000 jobs in 2022 and a further 10,000 in 2023 .