The dark art of dark ads: How social media campaigns try to swing opinion

Researchers show targeted adverts can be a highly-effective propoganda tool

160510-facebook.jpg
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A new study explains how "dark ads" on internet platforms such as Facebook can be used to swing political opinion and in some cases affect the outcome of elections.

Individual "psychographic" profiles generated from voters' online activities can allow political parties and other groups to match their message exactly to the person targeted, says research presented at the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More