'Racist, sexist': Inside Facebook's 'dark ads' targeting YOU

Monash University has exposed the murky nature of Facebook’s ‘dark’ ads. (Source: Getty)It’s fairly common knowledge that Facebook feeds you ads depending on what your interests are and what you’re browsing online – but these ads may be much more insidious than you think.Facebook ads have been accused of encouraging fake news and reinforcing discriminatory, harmful stereotypes that leave users feeling “anxious” and “powerless”, new research has found.A study by Monash University researchers found that Facebook’s hyper-targeted advertisements, driven by data collected on the individual, allows the social media juggernaut to evade accountability for potentially harmful impacts.Also read:Facebook exposed for using minors’ data for targeted adsFacebook’s early antitrust win doesn’t let it or Big Tech off the hookHow Aussie entrepreneur uses Facebook groups for business successHow do ‘dark ads’ work?In older forms of advertising, such as that on billboards or ads in newspapers and magazines, this was all in the public domain and can be viewed, collected and studied.And even with radio and TV, the same is true.But as people spend more time on apps on their phones, where content is tailored to the individual, these ads similarly become personalised and targeted.And because no one else ever sees these ‘dark…
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