Multiple Re/code sources said the engineering department could be the hardest hit, since it makes up about half of the total staff numbers and Twitter is “restructuring” to make it “leaner and more efficient”. Though it’s now unclear how many staffers will get the boot, the layoffs are expected to affect most departments, especially engineering, the site reported.
Advertisement
The layoffs would come just about a week after Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey was appointed permanent CEO promising big changes for the company.
Twitter quickly became a global sensation after its launch in 2006, but the social media platform’s growth has slowed and it has yet to turn a profit.
Laying off staff and cutting costs could also make Twitter more desirable to potential acquirers, even as top execs at the company insist it will remain independent.
The tech blog said that it’s likely that many of those impacted by the layoffs will be engineers. When asked to comment on the report, a Twitter representative told Ars that “we’re not commenting on rumor and speculation”.
Dorsey ran Twitter in 2007-2008 and served as interim chief executive for the third quarter after Dick Costolo resigned in June.
Advertisement
Twitter’s user base has grown less than 50 percent in that time.
