Anyone who's been on Facebook lately has probably noticed a disturbing trend: the newsfeed of Facebook full of ads. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, only the haystack is made entirely of sponsored content. It's enough to make even the most patient user want to throw their phone across the room.
But before you do that, let's explore why this is happening and what you can do about it.
Why Is Facebook Full Of Ads?
Facebook, like any other social media platform, needs to make money. And one of the primary ways it does that is through advertising. The more ads it can show you, the more money it can make. Simple as that.
However, Facebook also wants to keep you engaged. It wants you to spend as much time on the platform as possible. And one way to do that is to show you content that you're interested in. That's where the personalized ads come in.
Facebook uses a sophisticated algorithm to track your online behavior and preferences. It looks at things like the pages you like, the groups you're a member of, the posts you interact with, and even the websites you visit. Based on this information, it can tailor the ads you see to your specific interests.
This is a great idea in theory. After all, who wants to see ads for something they're not interested in? But in practice, it can lead to a newsfeed that's filled with ads for products and services that you don't need or want.
Taking Back Your Newsfeed: A Guide to eliminate Facebook Full Of Ads
So what can you do about it? Well, there are a number of things you can try. Here are a few tips:
1. Block Ads with Extensions:
Ad Blockers: These extensions remove ads from websites, including Facebook. Popular options include uBlock Origin, Total Adblock, and NordVPN Threat Protection (which includes ad blocking). Experiment to find one that works best for you. Ad blockers can also improve page loading speed and protect against malware embedded in some ads.
2. Use Built-in Ad Blocking Browsers:
Brave and Opera: These browsers offer built-in ad blocking, making your entire browsing experience smoother and ad-free, including Facebook. They also come with additional features like privacy protection and syncing capabilities.
3. Hide Specific Ads:
Don't Like It?: Facebook allows you to hide unwanted ads directly within your feed. Simply click the three dots in the top right corner of the ad and select "Hide Ad." This tells Facebook you're not interested in seeing similar ads in the future.
Block the Advertiser: If you'd rather not see any ads from a specific company, choose "Hide all ads from [Advertiser Name]" from the three-dot menu. This option completely blocks that advertiser's content from your feed.
4. Control Ad Topics:
Fine-tune Your Preferences: Facebook allows you to control the types of ads you see based on topics. Go to Settings > Ads > Ad Preferences > Ad Topics. Here, you can choose to see fewer ads related to specific categories like politics, social issues, or alcohol.
5. Turn Off Personalized Ads (Partially):
Less Personalization, More Control: You can opt-out of personalized ads based on your Facebook activity. Go to Settings > Ads > Ad Settings > Ad Preferences > Activity information from ad partners. Toggle the button to "Not Allowed." While this reduces personalized ads, Facebook may still show ads based on your on-platform activity or information shared by businesses.
6. Report Inappropriate Ads:
Offensive Content? Block It! Facebook allows you to report ads that are sexually suggestive, violent, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate. Click the three dots on the ad, select "Report Ad," and choose the appropriate reason.
7. Antivirus Software with Ad Blocking:
Multi-layered Protection: Some antivirus programs offer built-in ad blocking alongside malware protection. This provides a comprehensive solution for online safety and a cleaner Facebook experience. Consider options like TotalAV, which includes ad blocking and various security features.
8. Utilize the "Friends" Feed:
Focus on Friends: Facebook offers a dedicated "Friends" feed that prioritizes posts from your actual friends, minimizing the presence of ads and suggested content. Access it from the "Feeds" tab within the mobile app or by clicking "See More" in the left sidebar on desktop.
9. Additional Tips
Use Facebook's "Snooze" feature to temporarily hide posts from certain people or pages.
Consider using a VPN to protect your privacy and reduce the amount of data that Facebook can collect about you.
Be mindful of the pages you like and the groups you join. The more pages and groups you're a member of, the more ads you'll see.
Don't click on every ad you see. The more you interact with ads, the more Facebook will show you.
Remember, you're not alone in this. Many people are frustrated with the amount of ads on Facebook.
The Importance of a Clean Feed
A clean newsfeed can make a big difference in your overall Facebook experience. It can help you stay focused, reduce stress, and improve your mood. So if you're tired of being bombarded with ads, try these tips and see if they help.