Google and Meta are blocking political ads to combat misinformation. Some experts say it's too late

In a coordinated move to combat misinformation, major social media platforms are pausing political ads around the election period. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has temporarily suspended new political ads related to US elections. Google plans a similar pause after the last polls close. TikTok has maintained its stance against political ads since 2019, while X has resumed allowing them under new leadership.

These pauses aim to prevent any premature claims or sentiment manipulation as votes are tallied during the election. Despite these efforts, concerns linger due to previous reductions in social media companies’ safety teams and policy rollbacks that may undermine current measures.

Misinformation has remained a significant challenge for officials, with unproven assertions about election integrity spreading widely. Furthermore, domestic extremisms tied to election grievances pose potential risks of post-election unrest.

Social media companies emphasize their ongoing efforts beyond ad pauses. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, X, and TikTok have implemented strategies to promote reliable information, counter influence operations, and ensure content integrity around elections. Despite the temporary halts on political ads, critics argue that entrenched misinformation and platform structuring may still hinder misinformation containment efforts.