TikTok layoffs: Job cuts impact trust and safety staff

TikTok has laid off at least a dozen employees in Singapore, as part of a broader restructuring effort within its trust and safety division.

The latest layoffs, which took effect immediately on 20 February, are purportedly part of a global push to streamline back-end operations and align with the company’s long-term growth strategy, The Straits Times earlier reported.

Operations lead Adam Presser supposedly sent the memo on the dismissals, according to other sources who spoke to Reuters.

TikTok’s swift and decisive termination

Retrenched employees were notified via official letters and emails. Some retained their positions, but others had their system access revoked within an hour of receiving the news.

Affected teams spanned multiple regions, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the US, underscoring the global nature of TikTok’s organisational restructuring.

Among those impacted was a trust and safety product manager who took to LinkedIn to express his disappointment. He described the layoffs as “sobering” and noted that he had worked alongside “some really bright and passionate individuals”.

Despite his shock, he acknowledged his deep connection to the company and its mission.

Seismic shifts across the global tech sector

TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi had previously stated in January 2024 that the company employed over 40,000 professionals in trust and safety roles globally. He also affirmed TikTok’s commitment to investing over US$2 billion (S$2.67 billion) into its trust and safety efforts that same year, with a significant portion directed towards the US market.

However, the exact number of Singapore-based employees within this function remains unclear.

These latest cuts come on the heels of previous waves of layoffs.

In May 2024, reports surfaced that TikTok was planning to let go of a substantial number of its 1,000-strong global user, content, and marketing teams.

By October, the company had confirmed layoffs in the hundreds, particularly affecting staff in Malaysia, as TikTok ramped up its reliance on artificial intelligence for content moderation. At the time, Singapore remained unscathed by the workforce reductions.

While ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, still lists over 380 job openings and internships in Singapore, the firm’s global headcount exceeds 150,000 across 120 cities.

The latest restructuring, however, raises questions about how TikTok is balancing its workforce expansion with operational efficiency.

TikTok is not alone in making tough workforce decisions. The broader tech industry has witnessed similar trends, as companies recalibrate post-pandemic hiring surges.

Meta, for example, recently executed layoffs across multiple functions, affecting thousands of roles globally, including in Singapore. The company had earlier announced plans to eliminate 5% of its “lowest performers,” affecting some 3,600 jobs worldwide.

Alvin Aloysius Goh, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute, said the retrenchments are likely to continue as firms fine-tune their workforce strategies to maintain competitiveness.

The hiring boom during the pandemic led to a significant expansion in the tech workforce. As demand stabilises, companies are now right-sizing.

However, Goh noted that opportunities remain in high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and green technology.

What lies ahead after the layoffs at TikTok?

For TikTok, the layoffs are viewed as part of a calculated shift towards greater efficiency, especially as AI-driven automation reshapes operational needs.

However, for employees, the sudden nature of the cuts proves the unpredictability of the tech job market.

Companies are continuing to tighten their belts, and professionals in the sector may need to adopt a more agile approach, equipping themselves with in-demand skills to stay ahead of the curve.

As one laid-off TikTok employee described it, the news is “sobering”. However, the tech industry still holds promise for those willing to pivot towards emerging opportunities.