Business

Facebook to test letting advertisers avoid ‘unsuitable’ topics

Product development, trial to take much of the year

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 30 Jan 2021 10:20AM

Facebook to test letting advertisers avoid ‘unsuitable’ topics
Facebook makes most of its money from advertising, and has been grappling with curbing the spread of hate and misinformation on its platform. – AFP pic, January 30, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook yesterday said it is working on a way to let advertisers avoid having marketing messages appear in feeds alongside content they do not want to be associated with.

A small group of advertisers will soon start testing new “topic exclusion controls” being honed by the leading social network, said the company in a post.

“These controls will help address concerns advertisers have of their ads appearing in the News Feed next to certain topics based on their brand suitability preferences.”

The internet giant gave the example of a children’s toy company being given the option of not having its ads appear alongside content that falls into the “crime and tragedy” category.

The move comes with the massive social network facing pressure from advertisers seeking to avoid toxic and abusive content on the platform.

“This product development, as well as testing and learning in News Feed, will take much of the year,” said Facebook.

“These are new controls, and it’s important we build them with safeguards to protect people’s privacy as we continue to move forward.”

Facebook makes most of its money from advertising, and has been grappling with curbing the spread of hate and misinformation on its site. – AFP, January 30, 2021

Related News

Off beat / 7mth

RM5 parking fee suddenly 'jumps' to RM1,469 as man is about to tap card

Malaysia / 9mth

Cambodians flood PM Anwar’s Facebook with messages of gratitude for peace effort

Malaysia / 1y

MCMC to assist probe into viral video involving PKR division candidates – Fahmi

Malaysia / 1y

Najib is alive and well – sends Eid greetings to all, says Rosmah

Malaysia / 1y

Admin of FB group to identify temples allegedly built illegally summoned by MCMC

Malaysia / 2y

Man seeks original owner of RM50 with message ‘Last money from dad’

Spotlight

Malaysia

RM245m Penang Hill cable car project 32 per cent complete - CM

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Six locals charged over alleged kidnapping of Singaporean couple in Johor

Malaysia

PM: No political, racial or religious shield for those found guilty in TH, Felda probes

Malaysia

Singapore security guard jailed 14 days, fined RM7,000 for insulting Islam

Health

Dengue cases soar 56% to 58,079 as nation records 55 deaths

Malaysia

NGOs urge BERSAMA to put Indian community agenda on political radar

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Health

MOH warns seniors against unproven hydrogen inhalers

Malaysia

Former Tabung Haji CEO remanded seven days as MACC RCI probe deepens

Malaysia

21 held in KLIA-Nilai crackdown on alleged online love scam syndicate

You may be interested

Business

Robo.ai expects shareholders’ equity to turn positive after restructuring

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Business

Independent review needed, not blind denial, to address US claims – maritime expert

Business

Oil prices surge as US-Iran standoff, Ukraine strikes rattle global energy markets