Ben & Jerry’s to Pause Paid Advertising on Facebook and Instagram for #StopHateForProfit Campaign

Ben & Jerry’s said it will pause all paid advertising on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram starting July 1st. This is in order to push these social media giants to combat racism on their respective platforms.

“We will pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the US in support of the #StopHateForProfit campaign,” the company said on Twitter. They added that Facebook should make “clear and unequivocal actions” before they continue to use its advertising. They also want Facebook to stop itself from becoming a platform used by many to amplify “racism and hate.”

In a recent statement released on their website, Ben & Jerry’s said it stands with “the NAACP and Color of Change, the ADL, and all those calling for Facebook to take stronger action to stop its platforms from being used to divide our nation, suppress voters, foment and fan the flames of racism and violence, and undermine our democracy.”

Vice president of Facebook's Global Business Group, Carolyn Everson has also reacted to this. She said: “We respect any brand’s decision, and remain focused on the important work of removing hate speech and providing critical voting information. Our conversations with marketers and civil rights organizations are about how, together, we can be a force for good.”

Recommendations

The #StopHateForProfit campaign has given some recommendations. One recommendation calls for the creation of “a separate moderation pipeline” for some people. The users of this pipeline are those who have experienced discrimination based on race and religion. Another recommendation involves the making of a “threshold of harm” for harrassed users. This feature will then connect a harassed person with a Facebook employee. It aims to also make addressing certain hate-related issues much easier.

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