Verizon is the first telecommunications company to boycott Facebook Ads and its subsidiary, Instagram.
American multinational telecommunications conglomerate Verizon has joined the list of companies that pull ads from Facebook. The boycott will, in July, be an attempt to pressure social media juggernaut to revise its hate speech policy.
- The boycott is the result of the #StopHateForProfit campaign
- Founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has faced criticism
- Facebook has announced some changes since the announcement of Verizon
- The list of companies that pull ads from Facebook
Verizon joins the movement to boycott Facebook Ads
Verizon is now joining a growing coalition of companies that boycott Facebook Ads and its subsidiary, Instagram. Recently, outdoor clothing brand Eddie Bauer has pledged his commitment to boycott, just like ice cream brand Ben & Jerry.
Earlier this month, the founders of Vermont-based Creamery were arrested in the Black Lives Matter protest.
Nearly 100 companies joining the boycott include North Face, Patagonia, Modzilla, REI and Unilever.
One reason to fight misinformation
The boycott is the result of the #StopHateForProfit campaign. Campaign organizers include civil rights groups such as the NAACP, the Color of Change, the Anti-Defamation League, the Free Press, the Sleeping Giants and the Common Sense.
The movement began only a week ago.
The campaign is an attempt by the Anti-Defamation League to defuse President Trump’s misconceptions. Trump has joined other far-right voices in spreading misinformation and hate speech on the world’s largest social network.
But unlike Twitter, which has been removing doctor videos and referencing some of the false tweets that President Trump campaigned on, Facebook has been reluctant to respond.
Founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has faced criticism from inside and outside his company by those who consider him a passive problem.
However, as the general election approaches, misinformation on Facebook could pose a threat. Fake news campaigns had a tangible effect on the 2016 election. Moreover, as the global epidemic continues to dominate the news cycle with its ongoing financial crisis and national protests, real, credible information is crucial.
Facebook’s reluctance to remove false information is not neutral.
Verizon’s report
In a statement, Verizon CEO John Nitti said:
“We have strict content policies and are not tolerant of infringement. We will take action. We will suspend our advertising until Facebook creates an acceptable solution, which is convenient for us and we agree with what we have done with YouTube. Other partners. “
Facebook’s reply
Carolyn Everson, vice president of Facebook’s Global Business Committee, said in a statement:
“We value the end of any brand and focus on the important tasks of eliminating hate speech and providing important voting information. Our conversations with marketers and civil rights organizations are about how, together, we can be a force for good. “
Accordingly, Facebook has announced some changes since the announcement of Verizon. The company prohibits advertising that leads to any racial or religious category. Stress has an effect.
