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Facebook to let users turn off political adverts:
Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg says users will be able to turn off political adverts on the social network in the run-up to the 2020 US election.
In a piece written for USA Today newspaper, he also says he hopes to help four million Americans sign up as new voters.
Facebook has faced heavy criticism for allowing adverts from politicians that contain false information.
Rival social platform Twitter banned political advertising last October.
"For those of you who've already made up your minds and just want the election to be over, we hear you -- so we're also introducing the ability to turn off seeing political ads," Mr Zuckerberg wrote.
Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram will give users the option to turn off political adverts when they appear or they can block them using the settings features.
Users that have blocked political adverts will also be able to report them if they continue to appear.
The feature, which will start rolling out on Wednesday, allows users to turn off political, electoral and social issue adverts from candidates and other organisations that have the "Paid for" political disclaimer.
The company said it plans to make the feature available to all US users over the next few weeks and will offer it in other countries this autumn.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Thursday June 18 2020, @07:26PM (10 children)
How is that possible?
I've been repeatedly assured that Facebook in an unavoidable monopoly!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by SomeGuy on Thursday June 18 2020, @07:40PM (4 children)
It is in the same boat as not owning a smart phone. It is doable, but people look at you weird when they find out.
(Score: 2) by Kitsune008 on Thursday June 18 2020, @09:14PM (3 children)
I have never even seen a facebook webpage, much less visit/use facebook. I also have a relatively stupid flip phone, WITHOUT a touchscreen...and I love it.
As for the weird looks, well, at my age(60+) I just positively could not care less. I'm sure their opinion is important to themselves, but I simply do not care at all.
There is a certain freedom to geezerhood. It does not quite balance the scales of aging, but it helps. :-)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 18 2020, @09:30PM (2 children)
Remember to zip your pants and you won't get the weird looks.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 18 2020, @09:36PM (1 child)
My Granddad said, when one of his offspring noted his barn door was open, "If it can't get up, it can't get out!"
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 18 2020, @09:57PM
Alzheimer's is not forgetting to zip up ... it's forgetting to zip down.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday June 18 2020, @07:49PM
I've never had, and never will have Facebook. Nor Twitter. Not even once to try it.
When this infectious disease of a website first appeared, I realized how it would turn out. I remember the days of Usenet. Where spam was first invented. Human nature became apparent.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by DannyB on Thursday June 18 2020, @07:53PM
I've been repeatedly assured that Microsoft is an unavoidable monopoly.
Yet I've never owned one single Windows PC. But plenty of Linux. And once long ago, Macs. IIci. PowerMac 7500, 7600.
(I use Windows at work, where I'm not responsible for maintaining it.)
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Thursday June 18 2020, @08:40PM
It is a little known secret, but for some time now, Zuck has allowed people to block Facebook completely, not just the Russian propaganda and political ads, but the whole Shebang.
However, you may need to be over the age of 50 and a highly professional software person to do this. Or get your phone from 20 years ago out of the cupboard.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 19 2020, @05:00AM (1 child)
How do you know, before you go to a website, whether it has FB trackers on it so you can choose to not go there?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 20 2020, @09:30PM
curl {} | grep -ie Facebook -ie fbcdn