Meta has announced it will extend its restrictions on election-related ads past the original end date, set for November 5th, to an indefinite period. This is due to the likely lengthy and contentious vote-counting process in the U.S. election. Initially, Meta’s ad blackout period was meant to run from October 29 to November 5. However, now, only ads that were approved and served impressions before the blackout began on October 29 are allowed to keep running, though editing options are limited.
Meta says this extension is meant to reduce concerns about the impact of ads related to politics and social issues. This move responds to past issues with election misinformation, including accusations of vote tampering in the 2020 election, which led to political unrest.
For most advertisers, this change means less competition for ad placements. But for political advertisers, it requires a pause or rethinking of strategies until results are clear. Meta will update its policies later in the week.