Patagonia will stop advertising on Facebook, joining its rivals The North Face and REI in boycotting the social media platform amid criticism it promotes ‘bigotry and violence’
- Several US firms have joined a call by activists to halt ad spending on Facebook over concerns the leading social network has failed to address hate speech
- The sporting goods maker Patagonia added its name to the list Sunday, joining forces with its retail rivals North Face and REI
- The #StopHateForProfit appeal was supported by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- The campaign comes as the social media giant faces growing pressure over its hands-off approach to misinformation and inflammatory posts
- The social network last week said it removed ads by Trump’s re-election campaign that contained a symbol used in Nazi Germany for political prisoners
Several US firms have joined a call by activists to halt ad spending on Facebook over concerns the leading social network has fallen short in efforts to crack down on hate speech and incitements to violence.
The sporting goods maker Patagonia added its name to the list Sunday, joining forces with its retail rivals North Face and REI, as well as the freelance staffing agency Upwork.
Patagonia said on Twitter it was joining the Stop the Hate for Profit initiative unveiled by civil rights activists last week, who urged brands to boycott the social media giant claiming it ‘promotes hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism and violence’.
‘Patagonia is proud to join the Stop Hate for Profit campaign,’ the California-based outdoor apparel brand announced Sunday.
‘We will pull all ads on Facebook and Instagram, effective immediately, through at least the end of July, pending meaningful action from the social media giant.’
Facebook has come under fire in recent weeks for its refusal to fact-check posts published by President Donald Trump. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been accused of ‘refusing to acknowledge how Facebook is facilitating Trump’s call for violence against protesters’
North Face, also based in California, was the first to join the campaign on Friday, tweeting in response to a boycott call: ‘We’re in. We’re Out,’ adding later: ‘This includes all Facebook owned properties.’
The #StopHateForProfit appeal was supported by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, ColorOfChange, FreePress and the activist group Sleeping Giants.
The campaign comes as the social media giant faces growing pressure over its hands-off approach to misinformation and inflammatory posts, including from US President Donald Trump.
‘It is clear that Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, are no longer simply negligent, but in fact, complacent in the spread of misinformation, despite the irreversible damage to our democracy,’ the NAACP said in a tweet.
The coalition criticized Zuckerberg’s decision to not moderate the US president — only a day after the CEO again defended his decision not to limit Trump’s often controversial, incendiary and inaccurate posts.
The North Face has become the first major brand to pull advertising from Facebook after civil rights groups urged companies to boycott the social media giant amid claims it ‘promotes hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism and violence’
The outdoor apparel brand announced the news on Twitter, above a post from the NAACP which was critical of Facebook
Upwork said it was ‘hitting pause on hate with no Facebook advertising in July.’
REI also joined over the weekend stating: ‘For 82 years, we have put people over profits. We’re pulling all Facebook/Instagram advertising for the month of July.’
Facebook vice president Carolyn Everson said in a statement: ‘We deeply respect any brand’s decision, and remain focused on the important work of removing hate speech and providing critical voting information.
‘Our conversations with marketers and civil rights organizations are about how, together, we can be a force for good,’ she continued.
The social network last week said it removed ads by Trump’s re-election campaign that contained a symbol used in Nazi Germany for political prisoners, a move welcomed by rights activists.
The groups took out a full page ad (pictured) in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that’s titled: ‘What would you do with $70billion?’