Layoffs Affect Multiple Regions as Company Adjusts Long-Term Growth Strategy

TikTok has laid off several employees from its trust and safety team in Singapore as part of a global restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency. The move follows similar job cuts across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the US.

On 20 February, affected employees were notified via email of their immediate termination, with some losing access to company systems within an hour. The email, which cited strategic realignment, stated that the decision came after months of careful consideration.

Among those impacted was trust and safety product manager Eric Tan, who shared on LinkedIn that he was “shocked” by the news. He mentioned that the layoffs had affected numerous colleagues across different departments within the trust and safety division.

TikTok, which employs more than 40,000 professionals in trust and safety worldwide, had previously committed to investing over US$2 billion in this area in 2024, with a significant portion allocated to its US operations. It remains unclear how many of these roles were based in Singapore or if other departments were affected.

The layoffs are part of a broader pattern of job reductions at TikTok. In May 2024, the company reportedly planned to downsize around 1,000 roles across its global content, marketing, and user teams. Later, in October 2024, hundreds of employees—particularly in Malaysia—were let go as TikTok shifted towards AI-driven content moderation. At the time, Singapore remained unaffected.

Despite the recent cuts, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, still has over 380 job openings listed for its Singapore office. ByteDance employs more than 150,000 people across nearly 120 cities worldwide.

In response to the layoffs, figures in Singapore’s tech sector have extended support. Jamin Tan, director at the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and a former TikTok employee, encouraged affected workers to apply for job vacancies within his department. Additionally, members of the NTUC-affiliated Tech Talent Assembly are offering assistance to displaced employees.

The tech industry continues to see waves of restructuring. In February, Meta announced company-wide layoffs affecting thousands globally, including Singapore, as part of a broader strategy to trim underperforming roles.

According to Alvin Aloysius Goh, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute, these job cuts are part of an industry-wide adjustment following a hiring surge during the pandemic. He noted, however, that opportunities remain strong in high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and green technology.