NAIROBI, Kenya- TikTok is making a significant move to reshape its operations by cutting hundreds of jobs worldwide, with Malaysia among the countries expected to feel the impact.
The popular social media platform, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, announced Friday that the job cuts are part of a global restructuring aimed at enhancing content moderation efforts.
The company has not disclosed exact numbers per country, but it is estimated that less than 500 positions in Malaysia will be affected.
The heart of this restructuring revolves around TikTok’s growing reliance on AI technology to manage content moderation.
In a brief statement, a TikTok spokesperson explained, “We expect to invest $2 billion globally in trust and safety in 2024 alone and are continuing to improve the efficacy of our efforts, with 80pc of violative content now removed by automated technologies.”
This blend of human moderators and automated detection is the platform’s strategy to maintain a safer environment as it continues to grow in popularity.
The move to lean more heavily on AI comes as TikTok seeks to streamline its operations and boost efficiency. For months, there have been rumors of TikTok reducing its global operations and marketing teams, and these layoffs seem to confirm the speculation.
While the exact number of affected employees in Malaysia remains unclear, this comes at a time when tech companies, including TikTok, are facing heightened regulatory scrutiny in the region.
Earlier this year, Malaysia reported a surge in malicious content on social media platforms, prompting the government to demand that companies like TikTok apply for operating licenses.
These licenses are intended to combat rising issues such as online fraud, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes against children.
The layoffs, coupled with increased regulatory pressure, suggest TikTok is taking proactive measures to address these concerns while also optimizing its workforce.
As TikTok navigates these changes, it’s worth noting that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has a sprawling global presence.
According to its website, ByteDance employs over 110,000 people in more than 200 cities worldwide.
Despite the recent job cuts, TikTok remains committed to investing heavily in its trust and safety infrastructure. The $2 billion earmarked for 2024 highlights the company’s focus on improving the user experience while keeping the platform free from harmful content.
As the company moves forward, the blend of AI technology with human oversight will likely define the future of content moderation on TikTok.
While the layoffs are an unfortunate part of this process, the platform’s investment in safety and automation signals a forward-thinking approach.
