Meta is terminating workers at Reality Labs

Meta has confirmed another round of layoffs, this time targeting its Reality Labs division, though the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. This move comes as part of the company’s ongoing “Year of Efficiency” initiative that began in 2023, which has already seen Meta reduce its workforce by about 22% across multiple waves of cuts.

Areas Most Affected by the Cuts

The restructuring has particularly impacted:

Oculus Studios teams developing games for Quest VR headsets
Hardware development groups working on future VR/AR devices
Supernatural, Meta’s flagship VR fitness platform acquired for $400 million in 2021

A message posted to the official Supernatural Facebook group suggests these changes aim to “help us work more efficiently on what the future of fitness could be,” indicating possible strategic redirection rather than complete abandonment of the fitness vertical.

Behind Meta’s Reality Labs Restructuring

Mixed Signals in Meta’s VR Strategy

Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton explained the changes reflect structural shifts meant to improve efficiency in developing “future mixed reality experiences.” This carefully worded statement suggests:

A continued commitment to VR/AR development
Potential reallocation of resources toward more promising projects
Possible deprioritization of certain existing VR content

The Broader Context of Meta’s VR Challenges

These layoffs occur against a backdrop of:

Disappointing Quest headset sales, with the Quest 3S already seeing price cuts
Strong performance of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, exceeding expectations
Ongoing financial losses in Reality Labs, which reported $3.8 billion in operating losses in Q1 2024 alone

Analyzing the Implications

What This Means for the VR Industry

Content Development Slowdown: Fewer resources for Oculus Studios may mean fewer first-party VR titles
Strategic Reprioritization: Meta appears to be shifting focus from pure VR toward mixed reality
Hardware Uncertainty: Layoffs in hardware teams raise questions about future device roadmaps

The Supernatural Paradox

The treatment of Supernatural is particularly noteworthy:

Legal Victory: Meta successfully defended its acquisition against antitrust challenges
High Investment: The $400 million purchase was one of Meta’s largest VR content acquisitions
Current Downsizing: Despite this, the team is now facing cuts

Expert Perspectives on Meta’s Moves

Industry analysts suggest several interpretations:

Cost-Cutting Measure: Part of Zuckerberg’s efficiency drive amid massive Reality Labs losses
Strategic Pivot: Possibly reallocating resources toward AI integration in VR/AR
Market Realignment: Responding to slower-than-expected VR adoption rates

The Road Ahead for Meta’s Metaverse Vision

While these cuts might suggest wavering commitment, Meta maintains it’s still investing heavily in mixed reality. Key questions remain:

Will these efficiency moves accelerate profitability in Reality Labs?
How will content quality be affected by reduced development teams?
Does this signal a broader shift in Meta’s metaverse strategy?

One thing is clear: Meta continues to balance its ambitious long-term VR/AR goals with the financial realities of running a public company. These layoffs represent another adjustment in that delicate balancing act rather than a wholesale retreat from the metaverse vision.

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Social Tech

On Instagram, the mothers are thrifting

by George Mensah 2025-04-12

Late one evening, my phone buzzes — it’s a notification from Instagram: “Clark’s Closet Connection’s countdown has ended.” Excited, I tap into the page, knowing that a fresh batch of coveted secondhand treasures is about to go live.

Within seconds, new posts start flooding the feed. Size 10 Mario-themed sneakers, adorable Moana-print Hanna Andersson pajamas, a vibrant 3T Boden skort — each item is claimed almost instantly. Shoppers, mainly busy moms, comment “me!” to reserve their finds, racing against one another in a first-come, first-served frenzy. Tonight, 36 items are posted; 24 are snatched up before the final listing even goes live.

The woman behind the operation is Ashley Hauri, a Kansas City-based entrepreneur who has turned reselling into a thriving, community-centered business. Once an active seller on platforms like Poshmark, Hauri is part of a growing wave of thrift store flippers shifting their efforts to more personal spaces like Instagram — even though the platform isn’t exactly optimized for online commerce.

“Instagram is one zillion percent not set up for selling,” Hauri admits. “But it’s about the community. I get to watch customers’ kids grow up. I’m connected to them beyond just a sale.”

Why Instagram? Building Relationships Over Transactions

While platforms like eBay, Depop, and Poshmark offer structured selling tools, Instagram allows resellers to build something deeper: genuine relationships. Buyers become more than just transactions — they become part of a tight-knit community. Sellers like Hauri can share life updates, celebrate milestones with their customers, and engage in real conversations.

This shift toward social-first selling reflects a broader trend where authentic connection is becoming just as valuable as the product itself.

The Rise of Resale Culture: More Than Just Saving Money

Although online reselling isn’t new — fashion entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso famously launched her brand Nasty Gal through eBay back in 2006 — the concept of “thrifting” has exploded in popularity over the past decade.

Today, buying secondhand is no longer viewed as a niche hobby; it’s a mainstream movement driven by millennials and Gen Z consumers who prioritize:

Sustainability: Secondhand shopping reduces the environmental impact of fast fashion.
Uniqueness: Vintage and one-of-a-kind finds offer a way to stand out from mass-produced styles.
Affordability: High-quality pieces at a fraction of retail prices are hard to resist.

The numbers speak for themselves: the resale industry is projected to grow nine times faster than the broader retail sector by 2027, according to market research.

Mobile-First Shopping: A Shift in Consumer Behavior

One of the most significant drivers behind this growth is convenience. Thanks to smartphones, millions of shoppers are browsing, buying, and even bidding on secondhand items through apps they already use daily. They no longer need to step inside a brick-and-mortar thrift store to score deals or support sustainable fashion.

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Marketplace are becoming virtual thrift stores themselves — offering curated drops, direct communication with sellers, and a personalized shopping experience that traditional e-commerce struggles to match.

The Future of Reselling: Community Is Key

As the resale economy continues to expand, it’s clear that the next wave of successful sellers won’t just be those with the trendiest inventory. The winners will be those who can build trust, foster community, and create a human-first shopping experience — even in a digital world.

Ashley Hauri’s success story isn’t just about flipping thrift finds for profit. It’s a testament to the power of authentic connection in a marketplace increasingly driven by technology.

In an era where personalization, sustainability, and community matter more than ever, platforms like Instagram — despite their limitations — are proving to be fertile ground for the future of secondhand shopping.

Social Tech

LinkedIn users are being turned into incredibly boring dolls by ChatGPT.

by George Mensah 2025-04-12

Following the massive success of the Studio Ghibli-inspired AI art trend, ChatGPT’s latest image generation tool has found itself at the center of another viral sensation. This time, professionals on LinkedIn have kickstarted a playful new craze — turning themselves into AI-generated action figures.

From Fantasy Worlds to Plastic Packaging: The Rise of AI Action Figures

Initially igniting on LinkedIn, the trend quickly captured the imagination of marketers, entrepreneurs, and self-styled thought leaders. Users are now sharing highly customized images of themselves packaged like action figures, complete with accessories like laptops, coffee mugs, books, or even mini microphones — a nod to the platform’s business-focused vibe.

Among the different variations of this trend, the “AI Action Figure” version has gained the most momentum. Some have even adapted it to popular culture phenomena like the “Barbie Box Challenge,” creatively merging nostalgia with modern AI technology.

Although LinkedIn remains the trend’s main playground, the phenomenon has started spilling over to other social media spaces, including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. However, it hasn’t quite reached the viral heights of the Ghibli art trend, which continues to dominate Google Search interest and online conversations.

A Quieter, More Professional Viral Trend

Unlike the Ghibli-style AI art, which attracted backlash from artists and fans over ethical and copyright concerns, the AI action figure trend has so far escaped significant criticism. That could change as the trend grows, but for now, it remains relatively controversy-free.

It’s worth noting that the new text-to-image update from ChatGPT has played a central role here. The feature’s popularity was so overwhelming at launch that OpenAI had to temporarily restrict free access to image generation, managing server loads as users flooded the platform. While this action figure trend is comparatively smaller in scale, it once again highlights ChatGPT’s growing appeal beyond tech circles, drawing in everyday users with creative, low-stakes applications.

Brands and Influencers: Who’s Jumping In?

So far, the trend has been largely organic, fueled by individual users rather than celebrities or major influencers. Some brands like MAC Cosmetics and NYX Cosmetics have experimented with AI-generated toy versions of their teams or products, showing early signs of how companies might use this format for branding and marketing.

However, mainstream celebrities have mostly stayed away. The highest-profile figure spotted participating has been Marjorie Taylor Greene — an indicator that the trend hasn’t fully penetrated pop culture just yet.

Despite limited engagement numbers, especially compared to broader viral trends, the AI action figure movement is a fascinating example of how AI creativity is shaping personal branding on professional platforms. As AI tools continue evolving, trends like these may become an essential part of how individuals and companies express themselves online.

While it’s not the global sensation that the Ghibli AI trend was, the AI action figure craze shows how rapidly AI-driven creativity is infiltrating even the most unexpected platforms. With LinkedIn users leading the charge, the line between professional branding and playful self-expression continues to blur — all powered by the limitless potential of generative AI.

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