The disclosure requirement is part of Facebook’s transparency initiative in response to the type of fraud that plagued political posts in 2016.
Facebook announced the changes in a blog post on June 13, and it started rolling out to users feeds this week. While it was initially intended to cover only political ads, all publishers were added after it became apparent that groups could pose as “news” publishers.
Here’s an example of how the disclosure works on a regular ad:
And here’s what you see on a political advertisement:
Highlights:
- Publishers in early for ideas on how best to approach labeling and transparency.
- Some publishers have asked for exemptions, but Facebook says this goes against the concept of “transparency.”
- Users will be able to click on a brand’s page and see every ad it is currently promoting on the social network as well as Instagram, Messenger, and the broader Facebook ad network.
- Political ads will be archived in two sections: Promoted News and Ads With Political Content.
Go deeper:
- Authorizing Ads with Political Content: Why Publishers Are Included – Facebook
- Facebook Now Forcing Disclosure Of Every Ad From Every Brand – AdAge
- Facebook Reveals How it Will Keep Election Ads Honest – AdAge
- The Lowdown on Facebook’s New Political Ad Requirements – Digital Insights Blog
John is a writer with an interest in healthcare and SEO. In his spare time, he enjoys basketball and memes and spending time with his family.
