In June 2024, TikTok implemented significant layoffs affecting its African team, following earlier cuts in March and a global downsizing announcement.
The June layoffs were particularly severe, impacting employees in content operations, marketing, and trust and safety. Insiders revealed that more job cuts are expected in the third quarter of 2024.
While the exact number of layoffs remains unclear, sources indicate that over half of the African team, primarily based in South Africa and Nigeria, were affected. One insider estimated the team comprised at least 100 people. TikTok has yet to comment on the situation.
Some publications speculated that the layoffs were linked to regulatory challenges in the United States, where President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell the platform or face a ban. However, a company executive dismissed this notion, stating that the changes were part of routine business assessments.
According to The Information, these layoffs mark TikTok’s most significant workforce reduction to date, as the company usually opts for smaller team reorganizations. TikTok joins other tech giants like Meta and Microsoft, which have also downsized their African teams but continue to emphasize their commitment to the region.
