San Francisco – A former product designer at Meta, Asha Raval, has publicly shared her surprising reaction to being laid off by the social media giant: a profound sense of freedom. Raval was among approximately 8,000 employees impacted by Meta's recent global workforce reduction, announced on May 20, 2026.
In a social media post, Raval stated, "I feel so happy and free, like I can finally breathe again." Her sentiments reveal a deeper narrative often hidden behind corporate layoffs. Despite consistently exceeding performance expectations during her four years as a Product Designer, a role she began in May 2022, Raval recounted a feeling of slow spiritual depletion, noting, "no amount of equity, stocks, cash, accolades can fix the feeling of your soul slowly dying."
A Return to Creative Roots and New Beginnings
Before her tenure at Meta, Raval was an artist, and she now plans to refocus on her passions for art, fashion, and storytelling. This shift is already underway, as she is working as a founding creator at ItsFynd, a fashion-focused AI startup. This new role, she believes, aligns more closely with her creative and technological interests.
Meta's Strategic Restructuring Towards AI
The layoffs at Meta are part of a broader strategic restructuring, which includes a 10% reduction of its global workforce and the closure of over 6,000 job openings. Concurrently, Meta is directing approximately 7,000 employees towards AI-focused projects, signaling a significant investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, tools, and technology to drive its future growth.
This trend extends beyond Meta, with major tech companies like Oracle, LinkedIn, and Amazon also undertaking similar restructuring efforts. The industry-wide shift highlights growing concerns over the future of traditional white-collar roles as businesses increasingly integrate AI into their core operations and strategic plans.