TikTok, the popular short-video sharing platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has laid off several employees in the US due to poor performance last year. This move comes as the company is already struggling due to US tariffs on Chinese goods. The layoffs, which affected the e-commerce governance and experienced teams, are part of a larger effort to optimize the company’s operations.
The layoffs are seen as a sign of the challenges facing TikTok in the US market, particularly as the company grapples with legislation that pushes for the platform to be sold to non-Chinese owners. The US government has been concerned about the security risks posed by TikTok, with some lawmakers calling for the app to be banned or sold.
In a separate development, US President Donald Trump has extended the deadline on a potential ban of TikTok in the US. Trump has said that his administration has been working on a deal to “save” TikTok and has signed an executive order to keep the app operational for an additional 75 days. The president has emphasized that the goal is to prevent TikTok from “going dark” and has expressed hope that discussions with China will continue in “good faith”.
Infosys, an Indian IT company, has also been making headlines for its own layoff plans. According to reports, the company plans to sack over 2,000 employees in the next few months as part of a cost-cutting measure. The layoffs are expected to affect employees who failed to meet performance expectations, with the company planning to offer severance packages to those affected.
Overall, the global tech industry is facing significant challenges in the current market, with companies like TikTok, Infosys, and others facing pressure to adapt to changing market conditions and regulatory environments.