Dodging the Political Hype: Tips for Minimizing Political Ads on Facebook
When election season rolls around, political ads seem to pop up everywhere, transforming your social media feeds into a battleground of competing messages. While these ads aim to inform and persuade, they can quickly become overwhelming, especially for those who value their online privacy or wish to remain politically neutral. You’ll be happy to learn there are ways to shield yourself from this barrage and reclaim your digital space.
Managing Ads on Facebook
When you encounter any ad (political or otherwise) that you’d rather not see anymore, click on the three dots at the top of the ad and select “Hide Ad.” Facebook will let you know the ad has been hidden but requests more feedback on why you requested this action.
When you choose one of these reasons, it will offer you other steps you can take to reduce exposure to ads.
When you choose “Make changes to your ad preferences,” Facebook will take you to the “Ad Preferences” page. Here you will see “Ad Topics” at the bottom. Click on “See All” and then “View and Manage Topics” and you will find a whole host of topics to help you customize your ad experience on Facebook. To specifically block political ads, go to “Campaigns and Elections” and choose “See less.”
Another category you may want to address is “News and Politics.”
Leveraging Adblockers for Extra Defense
For those seeking an additional layer of protection, adblockers offer a powerful solution. These tools are designed to prevent ads from appearing on your web pages, providing a more streamlined browsing experience. Many adblockers, such as Adblock Plus or uBlock Origin, can be installed as browser extensions and customized to block specific types of content.
When configured correctly, adblockers can greatly reduce the number of political ads you encounter on Facebook. However, it’s important to note that some ads may still slip through due to the evolving nature of advertising technologies. Regularly updating your adblocker and adjusting its settings can help maintain its effectiveness.
Navigating the world of political ads on social media can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. By leveraging Facebook’s ad settings and utilizing adblockers you can significantly reduce the number of political ads you encounter.