Meta cuts 10% of staff — but no one’s celebrating

Meta’s profits are at a record high. The stock’s up. Mark Zuckerberg just bought a $1.2 billion island. But inside the company? Everyone’s unhappy.

More than a dozen current and former employees told WIRED the same thing: the hustle never stops, even as the layoffs hit. Teams are stretched thin. Managers push for AI-driven results while cutting heads. People work weekends just to keep their jobs.

One engineer said they’ve been on call for six months straight — no vacation, no break. A product lead quit after her team was shrunk to three people, expected to run three major products.

The AI push? It’s real. But instead of helping workers, it’s become the excuse to do more with less. The same tools meant to boost productivity are now tracking every click, every minute, every slack message.

Even the perks feel hollow. Free meals? Still there. But the vibe? Gone. People don’t gather in the cafeteria anymore. They eat at their desks, scrolling through LinkedIn, wondering who’s next.

Why this matters for us: When the company making the apps we all use starts eating its own, the hustle isn’t just for gig workers — it’s coming for everyone.