Meta Platforms’ (Meta) sentiment declined 5% in Q2 2022 over Q1 2022, according to GlobalData’s Company Filing Analytics database. The leading data and analytics company found that sentiment for Meta fell due to negativity around privacy changes, hiring and costs.

‘Headwind’ as a keyword appeared more prominently on Meta’s two earnings call transcripts in Q1 and Q2 2022, compared to the same periods last year. The Russia-Ukraine war, iOS issues, revenue slowdowns, advertising demand and regulatory changes were cited as some of the headwinds the company is facing in 2022. GlobalData’s Company Filings Analytics database also found that Meta’s earnings call transcript sentiment score of 0.87 was lower than the overall sentiment for the technology sector (0.89).

Rinaldo Pereira, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “iOS privacy changes, macroeconomic pressures and advertising demand issues continue to hit Meta’s sentiments. Sentiments were also negatively impacted by the company’s comments on a $10 billion revenue impact due to the iOS privacy changes. It is interesting to note that Meta mentioned ‘Attrition’ for the first time in Q2 2022. As well as mentioning attrition-related issues, the company discussed plans on limiting hiring and costs.”

‘Hiring’ and ‘Cost Reduction’ were some of the topics discussed during its earnings call in April 2022. Investment priorities around reels and the metaverse were also mentioned, with software-related monetizing opportunities in the metaverse in the near-term. Meta is also looking at gaining more traction in the metaverse by launching a web version of Horizon in the coming months, which it hopes will encourage more people to step into the metaverse experiences without needing a headset.

Pereira adds: “Meta may limit hiring, yet it is likely to continue investments and building teams for its Reality Labs. The metaverse is a key focus area for the company, and it is unlikely to hold back on it, with Meta looking at monetizing opportunities in the metaverse. That said, looking at the attrition rate comments over the earnings call, it may also look at shifting employees between divisions to focus on its Reality Labs.”