TikTok has started reducing its workforce in Africa as part of a broader global restructuring initiative, leading to job losses across the continent. The Chinese-owned social media platform, which has experienced significant growth in recent years, has been facing mounting pressure to streamline operations worldwide.
The layoffs, which began in March 2024 with a few initial positions being axed, escalated significantly in June. This round of job cuts primarily impacted staff in the content operations, marketing, and trust and safety departments. Although the company did not disclose the exact number of employees affected, sources suggest that over half of the African team, operating mainly out of South Africa and Nigeria, were let go. One former employee estimated that the team comprised at least 100 people.
The decision to reduce staff has raised questions, particularly amid ongoing regulatory pressures from the United States. The Biden administration has been pushing for TikTok to either divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a possible ban in the US. Despite this, an executive familiar with TikTok’s internal operations downplayed these concerns. “The changes are not a reaction to anything,” they stated, emphasizing that the layoffs were part of a routine business review.
TikTok has remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind these layoffs, declining to comment on the matter. However, the scale of the job cuts is reported to be one of the largest in the company’s history, indicating a significant shift in strategy.
This development is not isolated, as other tech giants like Meta and Microsoft have also recently downsized their African operations, despite their continued commitment to investing in the region. The future of TikTok’s presence in Africa remains uncertain as the company navigates this period of transition.