TikTok Layoffs 2025: Hundreds of UK Jobs Cut Amid Global Restructuring and AI Shift

The Wall Street Journal report, which cited internal sources, claims that TikTok has started a new round of layoffs that would impact workers in the UK as the company works towards artificial intelligence to automate content filtering.

 The activities of TikTok in South and Southeast Asia will also be impacted by this worldwide restructure. Hundreds of individuals are anticipated to lose their jobs, according to reports, even though the corporation has not revealed the precise number of roles that will be removed.

Why TikTok Is Laying Off Employees

In response to the layoffs, TikTok emphasised that the action is not merely a cost-cutting measure but rather a component of a larger strategic realignment. The company wants to streamline overlapping functions and concentrate more on e-commerce integration, AI-driven content discovery, and improving tools for creator monetisation.

"We are continuing a reorganisation that we started last year to strengthen our global operating model for trust and safety," a spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal.

Severance Packages and Employee Reactions

Although the work environment is described as "tense but not panicked", affected employees will receive severance payments and transition support. As the business navigates uncertain waters, many teams are preparing for potential future changes, the report continued.

The layoffs occur as regulatory scrutiny increases, particularly in the US, where TikTok may be subject to forced divestitures or bans because of national security concerns. The urge to compete is increasing as competitors like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels increase their investments in artist ecosystems.

In order to preserve agility and concentration, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is also simplifying operations across its portfolio by reducing experimental initiatives and combining teams.

TikTok’s AI-Driven Strategy and Content Moderation

In an effort to automate content assessment and reduce moderators' exposure to upsetting content, TikTok has been increasing its investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other moderation technologies.

The corporation claims that automatic algorithms now identify and remove more than 85% of content that was previously removed for breaking rules. Conversely, competing social media networks are turning away from stringent content control.

Meta Platforms said earlier this year that it would remove speech limitations and stop fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, adopting X's strategy after Elon Musk loosened moderation guidelines after acquiring the platform in 2022.