CREDO Action wanted to post an ad calling out Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg ads which called for expanded oil drilling and construction of the XL pipeline. CREDO Action’s ad was rejected by Facebook.
According to the Financial Times, Moveon, CREDO, Presente, Sierra Club and Democracy for America have pulled their ad buys from Facebook in protest of its lobbying organization, FWD.us, which supports the building of the Keystone XL pipeline.
While I do support free speech, even if that free speech makes my blood boil, I do have issues with a corporation, like Facebook, using its platform to promote its own political agenda by gagging those with opposing views.
Financial Times also feels the economic impact on Facebook from the boycott will be negligible. This is true, if just a small number of companies/organizations pulling their ads.
Facebook’s income come from advertising. Businesses advertise on Facebook because of YOU, the user of facebook, all gagillions of us. It is a very large stage.
How effective is an ad if nobody sees it?
As a user of Facebook, what can you do? You can call or write to advertisers, express your dislike of Facebook’s tactics and urge them to pull their advertising. The question is, will enough people do this?
Another alternative to calling or writing to each and every advertiser is to “HIDE” ads. It is a fairly easy thing to do. NOTE: Various ADS are used in these instructions.
1. On the right side column of Facebook are ads. Hover your mouse over the upper right corner of an ad until you see an “X”. Click on the “X”
2. Select HIDE THIS AD or HIDE ALL FROM ________
3. Select a reason why you have hidden the ad. If you SELECT OTHER, there will a small box for you to explain why you’ve hidden the ad.
NOTE: THIS WILL NOT REMOVE ALL FACEBOOK ADS AT ONCE. YOU WILL NEED TO DO THIS FOR EVERY AD.
©2013 by Dory Hippauf
Related posts:
Being Banned for half a minute from Energy in Death’s Facebook Page
What YOU need to know about XL Pipeline and Natural Gas
Comment Period on Pipeline Extended
Occupy a Pipeline, PVR/Chief Dehydrator, Beaumont, PA, 10.15.12
KEY FACTS (and funny business) about the Constitution Pipeline and Williams Central Station
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