Six Flags has announced that it is taking a break from paid advertising on Facebook and other social media platforms, joining a growing number of companies protesting “hate speech and harmful content”.
Facebook continues to receive criticism for its handling of hate speech, and in response corporations and advertisers are pulling away as part of #StopHateForProfit.
Six Flags is the first theme park company to join the #StopHateForProfit campaign, which was created by a civil rights coalition that includes the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, and Color of Change.
The group organising the boycott has called on companies to pause Facebook advertising through July. “Let’s send Facebook a powerful message: Your profits will never be worth promoting hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism and violence,” wrote the Anti-Defamation League.
Six Flags pauses paid advertising on social media
— Six Flags (@SixFlags) July 1, 2020
The #StopHateForProfit movement has resulted in more than 500 companies pulling their advertising from Facebook, which is being criticised for its handling of hate speech.
These include Starbucks, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, Adidas, Reebok, Verizon, Microsoft, Ford, and Ben & Jerry’s (via NBC News).
Six Flags posted the above statement on social media on July 1, which reads: “At Six Flags, we strive to be thoughtful and considerate of where we place our advertising dollars to ensure that we invest in platforms devoid of hate speech and harmful content.”
Six Flags to reassess internal policies
It continues: “In support of this belief, Six Flags has decided to pause all paid advertising on social platforms beginning July 1. During this social media break, we are going to reassess our internal policies and re-evaluate our external partners.
“We expect our social media partners to transparently and consistently assess their content, holding themselves accountable for the need for impactful change to their platforms.”
Meanwhile, Six Flags recently launched a new food ordering system through the Six Flags mobile app, allowing guests at its theme parks in the US to order food contact-free in light of COVID-19.
