Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has announced that the company will stop accepting political adverts on its platform from November.
The company will no longer accept political adverts from the 22nd of November 2019, you can see what he had to say about the announcement in the tweet below.
We’ve made the decision to stop all political advertising on Twitter globally. We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought. Why? A few reasons…🧵
— jack 🌍🌏🌎 (@jack) October 30, 2019
Reasons Behind the Ban
This is an interesting move by Twitter as Facebook has come under criticism recently for refusing to ban political adverts that basically have false information in them. The move may put pressure on Facebook to do something about their ads policy. Jack Dorsey elaborated on the reasons behind this decision, emphasizing the importance of earning political message reach rather than buying it. He pointed out that political ads on the internet present entirely new challenges to civic discourse, including machine learning-based optimization of messaging and micro-targeting, unchecked misleading information, and deep fakes.
Dorsey also mentioned that while internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics, where it can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions. He believes that political message reach should be earned, not bought, and that this principle should be upheld to ensure a fair and transparent political process.
Impact on Social Media and Politics
The decision by Twitter to ban political ads is likely to have a significant impact on how political campaigns are conducted on social media. Political campaigns have increasingly relied on social media platforms to reach voters, and the ability to target specific demographics with tailored messages has been a powerful tool. By banning political ads, Twitter is removing a key component of modern political strategy.
This move could also influence other social media platforms to reconsider their policies on political advertising. Facebook, for instance, has faced substantial backlash for its stance on political ads, particularly those containing false information. Twitter’s decision may increase pressure on Facebook to adopt a similar policy, especially as public scrutiny of social media’s role in politics continues to grow.
Moreover, this ban could lead to a shift in how political messages are disseminated online. Without the ability to pay for ads, political campaigns may need to focus more on organic reach and engagement. This could result in a greater emphasis on creating high-quality, shareable content that resonates with users and encourages them to spread the message voluntarily.
In addition to the potential impact on political campaigns, this decision also raises questions about the role of social media companies in regulating political discourse. By banning political ads, Twitter is taking a stand on the issue of misinformation and the influence of money in politics. This move could set a precedent for other tech companies and spark a broader conversation about the responsibilities of social media platforms in maintaining the integrity of democratic processes.
Overall, Twitter’s decision to ban political ads is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the role of social media in politics. It highlights the challenges and risks associated with political advertising on the internet and underscores the need for thoughtful regulation to ensure a fair and transparent political process.
Source @jack, Techmeme
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