AdvertiseMint

Grow your business with Facebook, Instagram & TikTok advertising. Let's talk 844-236-4686.

  • Home
  • Services
    • Facebook Advertising Agency
    • Advertising Agency for Amazon
    • TikTok Advertising Agency
    • Google Ads Advertising Agency
    • Instagram Advertising Agency
    • Snapchat Advertising Agency
    • LinkedIn Advertising Agency
    • Spotify Advertising Agency
    • Pinterest Advertising Agency
    • YouTube Advertising Agency
  • Pricing
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • 844-236-4686
  • Get Started
You are here: Home / Facebook / Facebook Is Demoting Organic Posts with Sensational Health Claims

July 16, 2019

Facebook Is Demoting Organic Posts with Sensational Health Claims

For years Facebook has struggled to combat misinformation. An open and largely unregulated platform frequented by 2.3 billion users, Facebook struggles to keep its platform clean. Fake news disseminated by Russian agencies back in 2016 wasn’t the first instance of misinformation occurring in a large scale, and it certainly isn’t the last. 

Recently, Facebook updated its algorithm to curb the spread of content that promotes misleading health claims. The update reduces organic posts with exaggerated or sensational health claims and posts that sell products or services based on those bogus health claims.

To determine whether a post should be demoted, Facebook answers these two questions: 

  1. Does the post talk about health, and if so, does it exaggerate or mislead? An example of this would be falsely claiming a miracle herb to cure a slew of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and Alzeihmer’s.  
  2. Does the post attempt to sell a service or product based on the sensational health claim? For example, a post attempting to sell a miracle pill that cures cancer.
This example of a sensational health claim appears in search results for “weight loss.”

According to Facebook’s announcement about the updated ranking, Facebook’s AI will scan posts for phrases identified to be commonly used in false health posts. Facebook’s AI will then place the posts predicted to include sensational health claims lower in News Feed. 

Facebook and Health Misinformation

Facebook’s increased efforts to curb sensational health posts come on the heels of controversy that occurred back in March when vaccine misinformation circulated in the platform. Many of these vaccine-related posts, reports CNN Business, promoted anti-vaccine rhetoric that spread false information. 

In response, Facebook took several steps to reduce the distribution of content that misinformed users about vaccination:

  1. Reducing the rank of groups and pages that spread misinformation about vaccinations in News Feeds.
  2. Rejecting ads that include misinformation about vaccination and disabling the ad accounts of repeat offenders
  3. Hiding content with misinformation from Instagram Explore and hashtag pages 
  4. Removing access to fundraising tools from pages that spread misinformation about vaccines. 
  5. Removing violating groups and pages in search results

Facebook has enlisted the help of the World Health Organization and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention to identify vaccine hoaxes. Facebook will take action against violating posts when they appear on the platform.

Sensational Health Claims in Facebook’s Ad Policy

Sensational health claims have long been prohibited in Facebook advertising. It is only now that Facebook is extending the limitations to organic posts. 

Currently, Facebook’s ad policy prohibits content promoting unsafe supplements. The policy states, “Ads must not promote the sale or use of unsafe supplements, as determined by Facebook in its sole discretion.” Examples of these supplements, says the ad policy, include anabolic steroids and human growth hormones. 

Facebook’s ad policy provides examples of misleading and false headlines. Photo courtesy of Facebook. 

Facebook’s ad policy also prohibits sensational content, ads with images or copy that aim to shock, disrespect, scare, or depict excessively violent content. Of course, misleading or false content is also prohibited, as all of the ads, landing pages, and business practices “must not contain deceptive, false, or misleading claims, offers, or methods.”

In regards to personal health, Facebook has a slew of prohibitions, including ads that contain before-and-after images, unexpected or unlikely results, or attempts to generate negative self-perception in its target audience. 

Facebook’s ad policy provides dos and don’ts of health-related ads. Photo courtesy of Facebook.

While Facebook takes down ads that contain sensational health claims, the social media company only goes as far as to place sensational health posts lower in feeds. Because paid ads get more reach, the consequence is much higher compared to organic posts. 

Back in 2016, a study found that false health information were more likely to go viral than posts with accurate health claims. Three years later, Facebook still struggles to combat misinformation in its platform, and it seems that the fight will be an ongoing one.

Comments

comments

Article by Anne Felicitas / Facebook

About Anne Felicitas

Possessing five years of digital writing experience, Anne Felicitas is the blog editor of AdvertiseMint, a Facebook advertising agency that specializes in Facebook and Instagram ad management. Anne writes content and oversees a team of freelance writers and contributors, ensuring the AdvertiseMint blog regularly produces both short- and long-form content related to social media, marketing, and advertising.

Complete Guide to Facebook Targeting

Download our FREE Facebook guide with over 850 ad targeting options.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Speak with an Advertising Specialist

Want to learn more about what advertising platforms are best for growing your business.

Schedule a FREE call with our experts. 

Ad Targeting Infographics

  • Amazon DSP Ad Targeting
  • Facebook Ad Targeting 
  • Hidden Facebook Ad Targeting
  • LinkedIn Ad Targeting
  • Snapchat Ad Targeting
  • Digital Ad Platform Policies
Hear the Audiobook FREE on Audible

Browse by Platform

  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Snapchat
  • Pinterest
  • Amazon
  • Google

Popular Articles

(Updated 2021) How to View What Your Facebook Profile Looks Like to Others

How to Make Money on TikTok

New Instagram Sorting Feature Shows Who Appears on Your Feed the Most

12 Ways to Become TikTok Famous

Here’s Where Instagram Keeps All the Posts You Liked

How to Hide Your Facebook Post from a Specific Person

Instagram’s Warning Notification Gives At-Risk Accounts a Second Chance

6 Important Marketing Theories and How to Apply Them on Social Media Campaigns

35 Banned and Restricted Products You Can’t Advertise on Facebook

The Best Time to Post on TikTok, According to Data

AdvertiseMint

  • Home
  • About
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Definitions
  • Programs
  • FAQ
  • Press
  • Phishing Scam
  • Sitemap

NEWSLETTER

Get expert insights and latest news in digital advertising every week

NEWSLETTER

Certifications



advertisemint google partner     

7080 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028       |       844-236-4686

Facebook Advertising | Instagram Advertising | Google Advertising | Amazon Advertising | Pinterest Advertising | Tiktok Advertising
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
© 2021 AdvertiseMint All Rights Reserved.