Facebook has introduced a new way for users to control the ads they see on the social media platform and provided an update on how the company approaches ad blocking on Facebook. The company noted a study (its own) where people said they start using ad blocking software in order to stop “annoying, disruptive ads”. With the new controls in place, Facebook said it will also begin showing ads on Facebook desktop for people who currently use ad blocking software.
The company believes ads can be useful when they are “relevant and well-made” and that full ad blocking software can limit choice and openness, Andrew Bosworth, VP of Ads & Business Platform, said. The company has therefore introduced new tools, making its Ad Preferences easier to use and able to block ads by type, subject or company. Users can remove certain “interests” from their ad preferences and block ads from certain businesses or organizations which have added the users to their customer lists.
The new tools, which are free, are also meant to counter the trend by some ad blocking companies which take money in exchange for showing ads that they previously blocked.
