TikTok has reduced its workforce in trust and safety positions across multiple markets, marking the second year in a row that the company has cut jobs in this specific function.
The move signals a continued shift in how the platform manages content moderation, potentially relying more on automated systems or outsourcing rather than in-house staff.
This latest round of cuts follows a similar reduction in February 2025, when the company also slashed trust and safety roles.
The repeated trimming of this department suggests a strategic pivot away from large-scale human moderation teams, which have been a significant cost center for the platform amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny globally.
The restructuring comes as TikTok faces persistent pressure to demonstrate robust content safety measures to regulators in the US, EU, and other key markets.
By reducing headcount in this area, the company may be attempting to streamline operations and reduce overhead, though it risks drawing criticism from advocates who argue that human oversight is essential for nuanced content decisions.