In a bid to tackle fake accounts and push for more transparency, Facebook has released a new Info and Ads feature that will be included on all Facebook Pages.
The new feature will allow any page visitors to see what paid adverts are currently active through Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and any partners for that particular page. As a requirement, pages will not be able to opt-out of using the new feature.
The move comes after the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the discovery of Russian trolls creating over 3,500 Facebook adverts in a bid to stir up U.S. politics. Many adverts were published of fake advertisement that seemed as if they were coming from pages such as “Bernie Sanders for President” that included false information.
Example of Fake Russian Facebook Advertisement
Last October, Facebook stated that it would start requiring advertisers to disclose identities when purchasing space on the social network to avoid similar incidents taking place. This new feature takes it a step further and Facebook continue to battle the false advertisements.
Discussing the topic, Sheryl Sandberg (Chief Operating Officer of Facebook), stated: “We’re providing much more transparency than any other advertising platform,”.
She hopes that being able to view the adverts “will hold [Facebook] accountable, it will hold advertisers accountable, but it will also give people the ability to find things that maybe shouldn’t be up or find things that might be misleading, so we can take action”
How do I find the new View Ads Facebook Feature?
If you would like to see what advertisements are currently live for a specific page, you simply need to visit the page. On the left-hand side, you should see an “Info and ads” tab.
If they have any live advertisements, they will show up on the screen.
The “Info and ads” tab will also create some advantages and disadvantages for business.
One advantage is that you will be able to complete competitor analysis without using any external tool to do so. On the other hand, competitors will now also be able to keep an eye on your activity and do similar campaigns.
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