KCOM joins companies withdrawing Facebook advertising to keep the internet safe

Local broadband provider KCOM has joined other companies in the global campaign withdrawing advertising from Facebook to put pressure on the social media giant to tackle hate speech.

Over 300 companies – including household names such as Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Adidas and Ford – have announced they will not advertise on Facebook throughout July in a bid to force it and other social media companies to do more to address racist and hateful content on their platforms.

KCOM uses Facebook to share content – from news updates to how-to videos – with its 13,000-plus followers and to advertise its Lightstream broadband service to customers across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Dale Raneberg, KCOM’s chief executive officer, said: “As a broadband provider we believe we have a responsibility to help make the internet a positive and safe place for our customers and their families.

“That’s why, as part of our community investment programme, we regularly visit schools across East Yorkshire to talk to children and young people about how to stay safe online and how to use social media responsibly.

“We’re joining other companies in not advertising on Facebook this month to encourage it and other social media providers to do their bit in making the internet a better place by putting in place stronger measures to tackle harmful content on their platforms.

“While it appears these actions may already be having an impact, with Facebook announcing a number of new measures to strengthen its policies and enforcement activities related to this type of content, it is clear that more work is needed beyond this single expression of concern and we will be looking at other ways we can help keep the internet safe.”