Musk Reportedly Plans Massive 75% Layoffs at Twitter
Elon Musk plans to cut Twitter's workforce by 75% if his acquisition goes through, leaving the platform with a fraction of its current staff. Experts warn such drastic cuts could severely cripple essential operations like security and content moderation.
Elon Musk plans to slash 75% of Twitter's workforce, or approximately 5,600 employees, if his acquisition of the social media platform succeeds. This extreme reduction far exceeds the 25% cuts that Twitter already considers, leaving the company to operate with a mere sliver of its current staff. While broader economic factors make some level of downsizing expected, eliminating three-quarters of the workforce represents an unusually drastic measure.
Observers urge caution regarding this reported number, noting a frequent gap between Musk's ambitious statements and actual reality. Running a platform as complex as Twitter with only a quarter of its current employees presents massive logistical hurdles. Musk also demonstrates a lack of understanding regarding the critical security vulnerabilities previously highlighted by the company's former head of security.
Essential departments like trust, safety, and content moderation require significant human oversight to function properly, not just automated algorithms. It remains entirely possible that this staggering 75% figure serves merely as a negotiating tactic designed to impress bankers or wealthy associates. The acquisition deal currently stays on track and is expected to close by October 28.