Unilever, the London-based consumer goods giant, announced on Friday that it would halt advertising on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter until the end of the year due to the contentious political climate on those platforms.
Unilever is the #2 advertising buyer in the US. https://t.co/FaCCahiwm2 pic.twitter.com/isD9XE8GWl
— Hank Green (@hankgreen) June 26, 2020
“Continuing to advertise on these platforms at this time would not add value to people and society,” the company wrote in a statement. “We will be monitoring ongoing and will revisit our current position if necessary.”
Facebook and Twitter shares fell by more than 7 percent shortly after the announcement was made.
In its blog post, Unilever pointed out that the “complexities of the current cultural landscape have placed a renewed responsibility on brands to learn, respond and act to drive a trusted and safe digital ecosystem.”
In an effort lead by the Anti-Defamation League, Unilever joined dozens of other companies in boycotting the three social media platforms. Among other reasons, the Anti-Defamation League cited worries that fake news was spreading there unchecked and that both Facebook and Twitter were not moderating false or hateful claims by President Donald Trump. Facebook in particular has been known for allowing the spread of conspiracy theories, including that the coronavirus was actually connected to 5G radiation.
Other companies that announced a boycott include Verizon, Ben&Jerry’s, Patagonia, The North Face and Magnolia Pictures.
