The internet giant Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is reportedly laying off 3,600 workers as it gets ready to implement its planned layoffs next week. The layoffs will primarily target what the company classifies as its "lowest performers," marking yet another round of job cuts in the tech industry.

The decision comes as Meta continues its efforts to streamline operations amid declining ad revenue, increased regulatory scrutiny, and the high costs associated with its ambitious metaverse projects. Employees across various departments, including engineering, product management, and business operations, are expected to be affected.

This move follows previous rounds of layoffs in 2023 and 2024, which saw tens of thousands of employees being let go as part of Zuckerberg's push toward a "leaner, more efficient" company. In a statement last year, Zuckerberg dubbed 2023 the "year of efficiency," a strategy that appears to be extending well into 2025.

Employees who will lose their employment will receive notices starting at 5 a.m. local time on Monday in the majority of nations, including the US. According to the statement, workers in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands would not be affected by the reduction "because to local rules," while workers in over a dozen other European, Asian, and African nations will be notified between February 11 and February 18.

Meta announced last month that it would backfill at least some of the roles and lay off 5% of its "lowest performers".

As Meta continues to restructure, analysts predict further strategic shifts in hiring and project prioritization. The company remains focused on artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and its metaverse initiatives while balancing profitability with innovation.