Thursday, March 6, 2014

Facebook Prohibits Gun Ads

Facebook dot com

Prohibited Content

Ads and Sponsored Stories may not contain content that is illegal or otherwise prohibited per Facebook's Advertising Guidelines. Prohibited content includes but is not limited to the examples listed below:
Weapons:
  • Ads and Sponsored Stories may not promote firearms, ammunition, paintball guns, bb guns, fireworks, explosives, pepper spray, knives, tasers, or weapons of any kind, including those used for self-defense. Ads and Sponsored Stories may not directly or indirectly link to landing pages where people can purchase any of these products.
  • Images of weapons are generally acceptable, as long as the weapon is not pointed directly at the person seeing it.
  • Ads and Sponsored Stories promoting blogs or groups that exist to help connect people whose interests are related to these products are allowed as long as the service does not lead to the sale of any weapons or explosives.
  • Acceptable: "Gun Exposition Today"
  • Unacceptable: "Get your ammo here"

11 comments:

  1. Wow--big victory--no sponsored ads directly for guns, just like e-cigs, but can still buy ads for gun shows.

    Oh, and it does nothing about the issue you were complaining about--people posting on their wall that they have something for sale.

    Brady Campaign agrees.


    Big freakin victory for you guys. Listen closely while I slow clap with only my little fingers...

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    1. Isn't that Brady statement the one that came out before Facebook changed its policy?

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    2. Isn't that Brady statement the one that came out before Facebook changed its policy?

      Nope.

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    3. Sorry, Mike. But Nope.

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    4. They say essentially the same thing here, and as you can see, it was put out on March 5th:

      March 5, 2014 Jennifer Fuson 202-370-8128 Jfuson [at] bradymail [dot] org

      Statement from Dan Gross, Heidi Yewman, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

      “This new policy is not a victory because Facebook continues to make it too easy for dangerous people to evade a background check when buying guns. A mere warning to follow the law and community-based reporting will not do enough to prevent unchecked gun sales to dangerous people,” says Daniel Gross, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “As we and thousands of others have told Facebook, unlicensed gun sales have no place on the social network. Facebook should prohibit all posts that advertise the unlicensed sale or transfer of firearms in the United States. Sadly, it’s only a matter of time before a gun purchased through Facebook without a background check is used in a terrible tragedy. ”

      “Facebook and Instagram are great platforms to share opinions, memories and photos, but they shouldn’t be providing opportunities for criminals to evade background checks and get guns,” says Heidi Yewman, spokesperson for the Million Mom March and Brady Campaign Chapters. “As a parent, I’m disappointed that an industry leader like Facebook is way behind on such an important issue involving the safety and security of us all. I stand with moms across the country and ask that Facebook and Instagram join Craigslist, Google and eBay and prohibit unlicensed gun sales.”

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    5. Actually, Mikeb, I'd love to hear you explain why the Brady Campaign is wrong.

      Here's a question for you: by what percentage would you expect the new policy to reduce sales that proceed without a background check?

      That's not a question I would normally ask, because whatever number you come up with will be more of a guess than anything else, but since wildly guessed, evidence-free numbers, arrived at with utter contempt for the scientific method, are something of a specialty of yours, I figure you won't mind.

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  2. Isn't it the case that the rules shown here were already longstanding Facebook policy?

    Oh yeah--from the bottom of the page in the link:

    Last edited about a month ago

    Congratulations, Bloomberg Moms (BMs)!

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    1. You lost this one, Kurt. Now all you're left with is pretending it's no big deal.

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    2. I hope all my "losses" are just like this one--with policy changes so minor that you get confused about which is the old policy, and which is the new.

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  3. For now, whilst only remaining in the realm of Ads/sponsors, this probably won't have much effect on things. If they start making it a problem regarding any photos of paintball guns, bb guns etc. that could be seen as a form of marketing then there might be issues for sport providers and other relevant industries.

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    Replies
    1. Wow. That spam ad was legible!

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