Two major advertisers have temporarily stopped doing business with Facebook because the social network giant allows a page called “Pedophiles are people too” to remain on its site.
The Texas Tourism Board suspended all of its advertising on Facebook after The Post showed Gov. Rick Perry’s office the “Pedophiles” page that the social media company insists is merely “controversial humour.”
“Within five minutes all of our ads on Facebook were halted,” said a spokesman for Gov. Perry’s office.
Silversea, a cruise company, also pulled its ads.
“We are concerned by the issues raised in (The Post’s) reporting, and have temporarily suspended advertising on Facebook,” said a Silversea spokesperson. “We will contact the social media site with our concerns.”
And, in an apparent attempt to head off further trouble, Facebook removed all advertising from the disgusting page.
As I mentioned in previous columns, the page contains discussions about having sex with 9-year-olds and stuffing children in cardboard boxes — funny stuff, I suppose, if you live in Menlo Park, Calif. (home of Facebook’s headquarters), have too much money and no morals.
Since Facebook has refused to remove the pedophile page, I am listing the companies that advertise on the site — as promised — along with the name and numbers of their CEOs.
And I’m encouraging readers to get in touch with these advertisers and let the CEOs know what you think of what Facebook calls “humour.”
I’ll list three advertisers a day until I run out, which shouldn’t be long because Facebook — despite all the hype — doesn’t seem to have too many ads to begin with.
Aside from Texas Tourism and Silversea, I called State Farm Insurance: Chief Executive Edward B. Rust Jr., (309) 766-3694.
State Farm didn’t get back to me by deadline.
None of the three advertisers I called was aware that the Facebook site hosted a “Pedophiles are people too” page. Nor did they seem to know that their ads were running alongside this page.
The Texas Tourism Board was the quickest to act, calling its ad agency within hours of seeing the pedophile page. I will give you the name and contact numbers of three more Facebook advertisers tomorrow, and the next day and the next day — until the company does the right thing by taking down the page.
I also want Facebook to apologize for thinking that pedophilia is humorous.
This is a note I received from one reader who asked to remain anonymous:
John: “I sold my shares in Facebook yesterday not because it’s a s–t investment but because it’s unconscionable that Facebook chooses to keep its pro-pedophiles page up. If they don’t take it down within a week I’ll shut down all of my accounts with them.”
Threatening to close your Facebook account is a nice gesture, but it’s not going to hurt the company.
Facebook’s biggest source of revenue is advertising. And the company is already in Wall Street’s doghouse for promising more than it’s delivering.
If Facebook advertisers start questioning the need to be on the site — or are embarrassed to be there — then the company will be in serious trouble.
If Facebook thinks pedophilia is a topic of amusement, then it needs to realize that the vast majority of people don’t agree.
So speak up!