4 ms·
Talk about an opinionated headline. If you read TFA, the word "alleges" is used quite often, but the headline itself is not only an indictment of guild, but fra
by tiltowait 3y ago
Talk about an opinionated headline. If you read TFA, the word "alleges" is used quite often, but the headline itself is not only an indictment of guild, but framed in such a way as if it's an obvious and known fact that Facebook's ad targeting is both sexist and ageist.
But let's back up a second. Facebook isn't doing the targeting; the advertisers are. Facebook is providing a tool not unlike those found on other ad networks. Demographic targeting is how practically all ads are done, and age and sex are probably the two biggest. This type of targeting isn't refusal of service to protected classes.
Is it California's stance that advertisers must now waste money advertising to groups who, by definition, have zero interest in the products advertised? Because of this ruling, will teen boys now have to see ads for menopause support supplements?
I loathe Facebook. I hate advertising. But this ruling is absurd, and I expect it will be overturned on appeal.
- antonyt 3y agoRegarding the headline, arstechnica A/B tests headline variations and then eventually settles on a winner. The more clickbaity headline ALWAYS wins. Completely speculating here, but I’d guess the authors write reasonable headlines and then some editor picks a terrible reformulation. Sometimes (as in this case) you can see what the losing title was by looking at the URL: facebook-targeting-ads-by-age-gender-violates-calif-anti-discrimination-law Much more reasonable, which is why it got less engagement and lost.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- incongruity 3y agoEnshittification is such a cruel thing. Arstechnica was a quality site at one point… not to say it has completely lost its value, but it’s sad to see the its decline, nonetheless.
- mensetmanusman 3y agoJust remember that the >10x reduction in journalism revenue due to the loss of classifieds is responsible for this. All the $ went to ad tech companies and this loss of revenue has meant a race to the bottom in terms of talent and resources.
- _aavaa_ 3y agoThis isn’t quite accurate. The ad tech companies are finishing them off, but Craigslist is what started this process.
- rayiner 3y agoIt’s not just the headline. The first paragraph of the article is substantively wrong. The trial court granted FB’s motion to dismiss, finding that the plaintiff didn’t state a cognizable claim under California law. The appellate court reversed, ruling that—as a legal matter—the allegations could make out a claim for a violation of law. The court didn’t “find” it violates the law, it sent the case back to the trial court to make that determination.