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In the context of social media increasingly playing a significant role in spreading information, political advertising on Facebook has become an essential tool for reaching voters and conveying campaign messages. However, to implement this type of advertising, you must adhere to strict regulations regarding transparency and identity verification. In the following article, Adsupport will guide you on how to create political ads on Facebook in a detailed and compliant manner.
In the digital age, advertising is a tool for sales and a powerful means to spread information, raise awareness, and shape social opinions. Advertising on social issues, elections, or politics refers to content designed to influence the thoughts, behaviors, or decisions of the public on topics related to community issues, public policy, electoral campaigns, or political figures. These ads can include:
Due to their extensive influence and potential to stir controversy, political and social ads are tightly regulated by platforms such as Facebook, Google, and TikTok. Advertisers must comply with strict rules regarding transparency, identity verification, and public disclosure of funding sources. This not only helps protect the integrity of the media environment but also ensures that users understand who is attempting to influence them and for what purpose.
If you plan to create an advertising campaign related to politics, elections, or social issues, Facebook requires you to follow a strict approval process to ensure transparency and information security. Below are the detailed steps to help you launch a campaign in compliance with the regulations:
Important Note:
Following the correct process for creating political ads not only helps you get approved quickly but also contributes to building trust with viewers and protecting transparency in the digital media space.
In the era of digitalization, Facebook is not just a social network for connecting with friends; it has become an incredibly powerful media platform capable of shaping perceptions, guiding public opinion, and spreading messages to millions of people. Therefore, running political ads on Facebook offers numerous advantages, especially in the context of increasingly dynamic and competitive election campaigns, social advocacy efforts, and policy promotion.
One of Facebook’s greatest advantages is its ability to target audiences with exceptional precision. You can customize ads to reach users based on factors such as age, gender, geographic location, interests, online behaviors, and even their concerns about social and political issues. This helps you deliver your message to the right people at the right time, thus increasing your influence and persuasion effectiveness compared to traditional media.
Compared to television, print media, or outdoor advertising, Facebook provides an exceptional return on investment (ROI). You can start with a small budget, track campaign performance in real time, and adjust your strategy as needed. This makes it highly suitable for independent individuals, non-governmental organizations, or medium and small-scale political campaigns.
Facebook requires political ads to verify the identity of the advertiser, publicly disclose the organization funding the ad, and include a clear disclaimer. While this makes the approval process more stringent, it enhances the credibility and transparency of the campaign in the eyes of the public, while also preventing the manipulation of information and foreign interference.
With features like sharing, commenting, and interactions that lead to exponential spread, a well-designed political ad can quickly create a ripple effect, spark social discussions, amplify the message, and encourage community action. Whether you’re campaigning for an election, calling for donations, or raising awareness about a policy, Facebook can help convert viewers into active participants.
Today, social media users, especially the younger generation, often stay informed about political issues through online platforms. If you’re not present on Facebook, you’re missing a golden opportunity to connect with the future generation of voters. Running political ads on Facebook helps you stay in tune with trends, bring your campaign closer to the community, and create a powerful voice in the digital space.
Although Facebook allows organizations and individuals to run ads related to politics, elections, or social issues, not every campaign is approved or guaranteed to be compliant. There are several instances where political ads can violate the platform’s policies or local laws, leading to removal, reduced visibility, or, in more serious cases, the suspension of the ad account. The following are specific examples:
One of the most common and serious mistakes is failing to select the correct “Special Ad Category” when creating a campaign. If the ad contains content related to issues such as elections, voter orientation, social policies, environmental matters, civil rights, or human rights, you must declare it as a political ad. Intentionally bypassing this declaration to avoid scrutiny or conceal the communication goal may result in the ad being rejected, removed, or lead to the permanent loss of access to advertising.
To ensure transparency and prevent external interference, Facebook requires all accounts running political ads to verify the identity of the individual or organization. This verification process helps the platform control the source of information dissemination and ensures that users know who is behind each political ad they see. If you fail to complete the verification step or provide inaccurate information, Facebook will reject the campaign or disable any related advertising activities.
Each country has its regulations regarding political and electoral advertising, including limits on spending, advertising duration, permissible messages, and legal requirements for sponsoring organizations. Failing to comply with these regulations — whether accidentally or intentionally — can lead to legal violations, especially during sensitive times such as election seasons. For example, some countries completely prohibit the use of paid ads for political propaganda on social media. In such cases, any form of advertising related to political issues is considered illegal.
Facebook has strict policies against ads that mislead, distort facts, spread fake information, or incite hostility and division. If the content of a political ad is found to contain false information about candidates, the voting process, or sensitive social issues, Facebook will remove the ad and may impose penalties on the violating account. Additionally, campaigns aiming to manipulate emotions, create public confusion, or erode trust in public institutions will be heavily monitored or completely banned.
Facebook only allows political ads to be displayed in the country where the ad account has been authorized to operate. This means that if you reside in Vietnam and are authorized to run ads there, you cannot target political ads to users in the US, Germany, or any other country. Of particular concern is when foreign organizations or individuals deliberately run ads targeting citizens of another country without proper authorization — such behavior is considered inappropriate interference in the political processes of a foreign country and will be strictly penalized by Facebook.
Therefore, to ensure that your political ad campaign is approved and operates effectively, you must fully comply with Facebook’s regulations and local laws. Transparency, honesty, and legality are the key factors that will help you build credibility and trust with your audience.
Frequently asked questions
To create multiple ad sets within a Facebook campaign, simply start by creating a new campaign or opening an existing one, then click on “Create Ad Set” within the Ads Manager interface. Each ad set can be configured with distinct audiences, budgets, schedules, and placements, allowing you to test different strategies under the same campaign objective. Breaking your campaign into multiple ad sets makes it easier to track performance, optimize your budget, and improve conversion rates.
To create an audience for ads on Facebook, go to Ads Manager and select the “Audiences” section. Here, you can create various types of audiences such as Custom Audiences from customer lists, websites, apps, or interactions; Lookalike Audiences to find users with behaviors similar to your current customers; or Saved Audiences based on criteria such as age, gender, location, interests, and behaviors. Creating the right audience helps you target the right potential customers and increases the effectiveness of your ad campaign.
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