Facebook Deleting Comments That Question Advertisers?

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The discussion centers around the deletion of comments on Facebook, particularly in relation to advertisements. A user noted that their comment on an Eko stethoscope ad, which criticized the ad's content, was deleted, leading to speculation about whether Facebook removes comments that conflict with advertisers. Other participants shared experiences of noticing that comments often disappear or are absent in repeated ads, suggesting that Facebook may treat similar ads as separate posts. The conversation also touched on the ability of post creators to delete or hide comments, emphasizing that while they can control their posts, the broader issue of comment deletion raises questions about free speech on private platforms. The thread concluded with a reminder of the limitations of discussion on certain topics, reinforcing the idea that not all content is welcome in every forum.
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This is really weird. I commented on this Facebook feed/advertisement a few days ago that the modern Eko stethoscope product advertisement seemed to be misplaced with this video of 1960s US EMS responses (note the ancient gurney) and my comment got deleted, presumably by Facebook because Eko is an advertiser. Has anybody else had a comment deleted by Facebook because of a conflict with an advertiser?

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No, but the discussion about bacon in Germany in Random Thoughts today brought me a bacon ad. They are really fast! Did you receive a notice, or how did you know?
 
fresh_42 said:
or how did you know?
Just because I know I commented a couple days ago, and now when I click on the Comments link, there are none. Maybe they hide all comments on ad threads like this?
 
Plus strangely, when I try to right-click on the FB post image/ad, it does not give me the option to copy it or its URL. Hmm...
 
berkeman said:
Just because I know I commented a couple days ago, and now when I click on the Comments link, there are none. Maybe they hide all comments on ad threads like this?
Another possibility is, that you commented on a certain post a few days ago, and now didn't find any comments on a shared version, or otherwise duplicate post. Did you check 'your activity log'?
 
I've often noticed repeated ads on facebook that have new comment threads every single time, so I have assumed they are different ads from facebook's perspective that happen to have the same advertisement attached to it.
 
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Ah, thanks guys. That makes a lot more sense than my comment being deleted.
 
I would be surprised if that got deleted. I've found pictures of excrement floating in toilets and left them in the comments on ads and news articles that I think are completely unworthy of publication. They never get deleted.

Ads also get reposted frequently with new comments. One kept getting reposted after I would call it out for having a young half-naked girl in the picture for no reason (it was a silly indoor game with cups and strings).
 
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Mondayman said:
I would be surprised if that got deleted. I've found pictures of excrement floating in toilets and left them in the comments on ads and news articles that I think are completely unworthy of publication. They never get deleted.
Well, Mark Zuckerberg can do it though.
 
  • #10
waternohitter said:
Well, Mark Zuckerberg can do it though.
Well, yeah, he probably could if he really wanted to.

Something I should bring up is that if you are the owner of a post on Facebook (i.e., you are the one who shared or posted it in the first place), you have the power to hide or delete comments on that post.

For example, open Facebook and go to your profile page (again, this is Facebook, not PF). Find a post that you made that has at least one comment on it. Hover your mouse over the comment and a "..." will appear. Clicking on the "..." will allow you to "Delete or hide" the comment.

So yes, the creator of the add has the power to delete or hide comments made to their own posts. But I think this is really a matter of whether they did hide the comments, rather than if they could.
 
  • #11
I just posted a reply in here that Facebook is indeed deleting comments when it comes to certain organisations controling the west, the comment was even deleted in here. This is not a free place either.
 
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  • #12
Suwayyah said:
This is not a free place either.
Certainly not. We're far more restrictive than facebook. Keeps the signal-to-noise ratio high.
 
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  • #13
Suwayyah said:
This is not a free place either.
No, it is not. It's also not a place to discuss crackpot conspiracy theories. It's a place to discuss physics.
 
  • #14
Thread closed. There is nothing to add here, except a lecture about the freedom of speech in the light of the freedom of nonsense on private platforms.
 
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