NAIROBI, Kenya- In a move that has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, TikTok’s African team was hit with significant layoffs in June 2024.
This decision comes on the heels of the social media giant’s broader announcement of global staff reductions.
The layoffs, which primarily impacted employees in content operations, marketing, and trust and safety teams, reflect the ongoing challenges and strategic shifts within the ByteDance-owned company.
The June layoffs weren’t the first sign of trouble for TikTok’s African operations. According to sources familiar with the situation, the company had already begun trimming positions within its African team as early as March 2024.
However, the June cuts were far more extensive, with more than half of the team—operating primarily out of South Africa and Nigeria—being affected. This has left many in the industry questioning the future of TikTok’s presence on the continent.
While the exact number of layoffs remains unclear, insiders estimate that the African team comprised at least 100 members before these cuts.
Despite the significant impact, TikTok has remained tight-lipped, offering no official comment on the matter. This silence has only fueled speculation and concern among those watching the company’s moves in Africa.
The timing of these layoffs has led to widespread speculation that they are linked to TikTok’s ongoing regulatory challenges in the United States.
Under pressure from President Joe Biden’s administration, which has mandated that China-based companies either sell TikTok within nine months or face a nationwide ban, many believe the African layoffs are part of a broader strategy to navigate these hurdles.
However, a high-ranking TikTok executive, speaking anonymously, dismissed these claims, stating that the layoffs are simply “part of an ongoing business assessment process” and not a direct reaction to regulatory pressures.
According to reports from The Information, this marks TikTok’s most substantial layoff to date, a shift from the company’s usual approach of smaller-scale reorganizations across teams.
TikTok isn’t alone in making these tough decisions. Other tech giants, including Meta and Microsoft, have also reduced their African workforce in recent months.
However, both companies maintain that they are still committed to investing in the region, raising questions about how these changes will ultimately impact Africa’s growing tech ecosystem.
