[LAUREN TAYLOR]

YOU’VE PROBABLY DEALT WITH COUNTLESS POLITICAL ADS THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

BUT NOW THAT THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE WRAPPING UP, WHEN WILL THE POLITICAL MESSAGES STOP?

IT DEPENDS ON THE PLATFORM.

META THE PARENT GROUP OF FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM SAYS IT WILL EXPAND ITS BLOCK ON NEW ELECTION ADS FOR A FEW DAYS POST-ELECTION.

META’S POLICY RESTRICTS “NEW SOCIAL ISSUES, ELECTORAL, AND POLITICAL ADS” FROM BEING DISPLAYED DURING THE FINAL WEEK OF THE U-S GENERAL ELECTION” TO FIGHT VOTER MISINFORMATION.

THE EXTENSION OF THE BLOCK IS BECAUSE OF VOTES STILL BEING COUNTED.

GOOGLE IS ALSO BLOCKING ALL ELECTION ADS FOLLOWING THE CLOSING OF THE POLLS  FOR THE SAME REASON.

LAST ELECTION CYCLE, GOOGLE DIDN’T END THE PAUSE UNTIL DECEMBER.

BUT IF YOU’RE WATCHING T-V OR LISTENING TO RADIO YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE POLITICAL ADS.

THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION HAS NO RULES ON WHEN POLITICAL ADS HAVE TO STOP AIRING.

MEANING YOU COULD BE HEARING OR SEEING ISSUE OR CAMPAIGN ADS FOR A WHILE.

OFFICIALS SAY CAMPAIGN ADS USUALLY FALL OFF POST ELECTION BUT ADVERTISEMENTS FOCUSING ON ISSUES TYPICALLY CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THE ONLY THINGS THE F-C-C HAS CONTROL OVER WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICAL ADS ARE RULES GOVERNING FAIRNESS FOR POLITICAL ADS AND CANDIDATES, NOT HOW OFTEN OR HOW LONG AN AD CAN RUN FOR. 

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS–I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.