Facebook/Donald Trump
- Since Facebook began tracking and publicly reporting which pages pay for political ads in May 2018, more than $887 million has been spent on Facebook ads about social issues, elections, or politics.
- Of the 18 biggest spenders on Facebook during that window, about a third are directly affiliated with political candidates' campaigns, either for 2018 midterms or the 2020 presidential election.
- Other pages pouring millions into political Facebook ads may come as more of a surprise, including gun-rights activists, animal rights groups, and ExxonMobil.
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Advertisers have purchased more than $887 million worth of political ads on Facebook since May 2018.
Of that total, at least $21 million was spent by Facebook's No. 1 customer for political ads: the campaign to reelect President Donald Trump. But some of the other pages spending the most on political Facebook ads are a bit more surprising.
Available data on political ads on Facebook dates back to May 2018, when the social network started classifying ads about "social issues, elections, or politics." Advertisers can use Facebook's trove of user data to target ads to specific demographics, including political affiliation, location, gender, and age.
Facebook has published information about political ads in an effort to be more transparent after it received blowback for its role in spreading false or misleading information that aimed to influence the 2016 election.
The company is still under fire for how it handles political ads. The tech giant has said it will not fact-check political candidates' ads, prompting outrage from lawmakers and Facebook's own employees alike. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has maintained that the policy is rooted in free speech values.
It's also not entirely clear how Facebook determines which ads are about "social issues, elections, or politics." Earlier this month, Facebook temporarily blocked an LGBTQ health clinic from advertising HIV prevention medicine because it said the page was not authorized to buy political ads.
We compiled a list of Facebook's biggest political ad buyers based on information from its ad archive. The list of the biggest spenders paints a picture of how politicians and special interests are using the platform to influence policy and sway public opinion.
19. National Republican Congressional CommitteeSusan Walsh/AP PhotoTotal amount spent: $3,054,144
Number of ads bought: 9,015
The NRCC buys ads supporting Republican candidates that aren't officially endorsed by those candidates. Many of its recent ads are focused on reelecting Trump in 2020.
18. MoveOn.org Political ActionMoveOn
Total amount spent: $3,076,264
Number of ads bought: 3,426
MoveOn.org Political Action is a progressive PAC that largely supports Democratic candidates. Most of its recent ad buys advocate for impeaching Trump and funding candidates to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
17. Elizabeth WarrenReuters
Total amount spent: $3,396,967
Number of ads bought: 18,373
The Senator from Massachusetts has been a vocal critic of Facebook's ad policies, but that hasn't stopped her from advertising heavily on the platform. Last month, she ran an ad with intentionally false claims to criticize the platform's refusal to fact-check political ads.
16. Sierra ClubFacebook
Total amount spent: $3,482,991
Number of ads bought: 6,037
The Sierra Club aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and advocates for stronger climate protections, making its ads political per Facebook's policy.
15. Planned ParenthoodAP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Total amount spent: $3,514,365
Number of ads bought: 14,777
Many of Planned Parenthood's recent ad buys focus on protecting abortion rights and promoting their clinics' services.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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