Meta to cut roughly 10% of staff in first wave on May 20, it has been reported

What happened

It has been reported that Meta intends to conduct a first wave of sweeping layoffs on May 20, trimming roughly 10% of its global workforce — about 8,000 employees. The cuts are said to be only the opening move, with additional reductions planned later in 2026. Short and sharp: thousands of roles could vanish on a single day.

Why it matters

This is not just a punctual HR event. Big Tech has been pruning headcount for years now, and another round at Meta — parent of Facebook, Instagram and Threads — would ripple across the industry and the communities that rely on those platforms. For workers, managers and contractors, the human toll is immediate: anxiety, disrupted projects, and lost momentum. For investors and competitors, it raises questions about growth expectations, AI investment trade-offs, and how aggressively firms will restructure to chase profitability.

What's next

Details remain thin and timing will be closely watched. Will teams be consolidated, projects shelved, or priorities pivoted again? It has been reported that further cuts will follow in 2026, so the May 20 wave may be just the start. Employees, industry watchers and markets will be waiting for Meta’s own confirmation — and for the inevitable tough conversations that follow.

Sources: reuters.com