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Meta is facing renewed criticism after its recent round of layoffs. Former employees have already raised their concerns about the company's toxic work culture. Now, in a shocking revelation, a former Meta engineer compared Meta’s work environment to the famous Netflix series Squid Game.
Over the last two years, Meta has removed thousands of workers while increasing its focus on artificial intelligence. The company continues to invest heavily in AI systems, data centers, and future technology projects.
Former employees now say the pressure within the company intensified during this period. Many workers reportedly felt they had to constantly prove themselves while fearing job cuts.
Meta recently cut 10% of its workforce, resulting in 8,000 employees losing their jobs globally. Though CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it’s part of a restructuring plan and that there won’t be any further layoffs this year, employees say otherwise.
Recently, a former engineer, Jeremy Bernier, took to X (now deleted) and described the atmosphere as similar to Squid Game, in which people compete under pressure while worrying about survival. According to the employee, the company has prioritized internal rankings and performance reviews since the AI push intensified.
He justified his statement saying, “The only mission bonding the company together is individual self-preservation. Save your own ass to survive for another stock vesting, and throw someone else under the bus if you need to.”
This continuous performance review and layoffs have made the company culture toxic, where workers compete with each other for everything. Berner mentioned, “Meta was easily the most toxic company I've worked for.”
He further continued his statement, saying, “There's a reason the Chinese call it ‘Squid Game.’ Others refer to it as ‘Hunger Games’ or ‘Lord of the Flies.’ I think they're all accurate.” While Meta has been competing with firms like OpenAI and Google in the growing AI market, it seems the internal culture has become highly stressful during the shift.
The AI race has changed workplace culture in almost every tech firm. Teams are now expected to move faster and deliver stronger results in less time. In some companies, workers feel they must constantly compete to stay valuable. Over time, that pressure can lead to stress, exhaustion, and fear about job security.
Several major tech firms have continued layoffs while also increasing AI investments. Amid this growing AI competition, employees now feel less secure about their long-term careers in the industry. As Jeremy Bernier has mentioned, “I’ve seen managers and TLs throw others under the bus and get away with it.”
Also Read: Zuckerberg’s Leaked Audio Surfaces, Meta Faces Fresh Scrutiny Over Employee Monitoring
For years, the tech world has mostly talked about innovation and rapid growth. Now, burnout and workplace stress are becoming part of the larger discussion. The latest criticism of Meta shows how quickly company culture can change during major business shifts. While AI remains a top priority, many workers are beginning to question how much pressure employees can handle over time.
