Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, and Other Brands Boycott Facebook Ads

More and more brands are joining a growing movement to boycott Facebook ads, saying that the social network site is not doing enough to prohibit false information and hate speech.

Facebook posts and advertisements can powerfully influence public opinion, and like all social media, it’s easy to share hate on Facebook with relative anonymity. As more people realize the incendiary nature of social media, some say Facebook is obligated to curb the spread of harmful misinformation on its potent platform.  

Last Wednesday, leading activist groups started the #StopHateforProfit Campaign to bring awareness to the issue. Organizations such as the NAACP, Color of Change, and ADL have called for businesses to stand against the monetization of hate by ceasing to purchase Facebook ads throughout July. 

According to the campaign website, stophateforprofit.org, Facebook allowed “incitement to violence” against protesters fighting for racial justice after the recent death of George Floyd. The site also states that Facebook has directly and indirectly supported white nationalists, Holocaust deniers, and voter suppression.

Many brands have already pledged to join the campaign and boycott Facebook ads, including the outdoor apparel companies REI, The North Face, and Patagonia. 

Upwork and Ben & Jerry’s have also joined the #StopHateforProfit campaign. In their June 23 blog post, Ben & Jerry’s called for Facebook to stop its network from being used to “undermine our democracy.”

One must applaud these businesses for setting aside their own marketing goals to support truth and justice on social media. Hopefully, Facebook hears the #StopHateforProfit message and works harder to prohibit racism, hate, and falsehoods on its platform.