Have you ever had a friend or family member borrow your computer for a minute, only to see completely irrelevant ads on Facebook for months afterwards? Maybe its bras when you want beers, sports scores when you want spring dresses or metal gigs when you’re after Madonna. Sometimes it only takes the clicking of a link, an accidental ‘Like’ from a fat finger on a mobile or a curious mind getting the better of you and you’re newsfeed is full of things that you’d rather ignore or forget about altogether.
While Facebook advertising is here to stay, here’s some good news! You can easily change your Facebook interests so that you will see ads that actually relate to you. With a couple of clicks, you can see what Facebook knows (or thinks) you’re interested in, and all of the fun things which Facebook advertisers can use to target you with their products.
- Click the arrow in the top right corner of the Facebook site and head down to ‘Settings’.
- Once there, head over to the ‘Ads’ tab on the left and here you’ll find “Ads based on my preferences”.
- Hit ‘Edit’ and then ‘Visit Ad Preferences’ you might be pleasantly surprised or terribly horrified by what Facebook thinks you’re interested in.
- Trim your list by clicking the ‘x’ in the top corner of each uninteresting interest!
Not only is this a fun way to rediscover the 2006 punk band at whose gig you had your first crowd surf, but its also a great way to get rid of some of the misconceptions of presumptuous Facebook algorithms that might be turning your ‘Right column’ for the worst.
Whether it for a trip down nostalgia lane or you want to forget that your 50th birthday is on the horizon and “the perfect birthday venue!” ads a are becoming a drag, this is good news for all Facebook users sick of the spam.
– Jonathan
No Facebook, not everyone likes lamp.
You on the other hand…you can stay!
