Facebook accused of helping advertisers exclude older workers

Occurred: December 2017

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Facebook's ad targeting system allowed employers to exclude older workers from job advertisements, potentially violating US age discrimination laws.ย 

What happened

Facebook's ad targeting system enabled employers like Verizon, Amazon and Goldman Sachs to limit job advertisements to specific age ranges, often targeting younger demographics.ย 

Exposed by ProPublica and The New York Times, the practice potentially violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) by preventing older job seekers from seeing these opportunities.

Why it happened

Facebook defended the practice as an "accepted industry practice" for targeted recruitment. Some companies argued that age-based targeting was similar to advertising in age-specific publications.ย 

The platform's ability to deliver ads to precise audiences is central to its business model, but it raised concerns about fairness in employment practices.ย 

What it means

Older job seekers may have been unfairly excluded from job opportunities, potentially limiting their career prospects and financial stability.ย 

The practice could reinforce ageism in the workplace and undermine efforts for diverse and inclusive hiring.

System ๐Ÿค–

Documents ๐Ÿ“„

Operator:ย 
Developer: Facebook
Country: USA
Sector: Business/professional services
Purpose: Target advertising audiences
Technology: Advertising management system
Issue: Accountability; Bias/discrimination

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