GOOG To Follow FB With Restrictions On Housing, Employment, and Credit Ads

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Usually Google is a leader in all things advertising, however, a recent update to policy by GOOG (NASDAQ) will have it following Facebook (FB) where the ad giant will implement new targeting restrictions which could lead to ‘societal biases’ which have been in place by Facebook for some time now.

In a message to advertisers, Google laid out the changes in an email notification letting advertisers know that the changes will be implemented effective October 19, 2020.

On October 19, 2020, Google will update its Personalized advertising policies to introduce new targeting restrictions. In an effort to improve inclusivity for users disproportionately affected by societal biases; housing, employment, and credit products or services can no longer be targeted to audiences based on gender, age, parental status, marital status, or ZIP code.
Our records indicate your Google Ads account might be impacted by this change.

Examples of impacted products or services include, but are not limited to

• Housing: Housing listing sites, individual houses for sale or rental, real estate services
• Employment: Ads for jobs, job recruitment sites, job listing sites
• Credit: Credit cards, loans including home loans, car loans, appliance loans, short-term loans

This policy change will apply in the U.S. and Canada only. All advertisers using personalized ads to target audiences in the U.S. and Canada must comply with these changes.

What this means for advertisers promoting housing, employment, or credit

• Potentially impacted advertisers will receive notifications in their Google Ads account prompting them to acknowledge these policy changes and to agree to comply with relevant local laws. Advertisers who have not accepted these changes when the policy goes into effect on October 19 will be unable to create any new campaigns until they accept the changes.

• Additionally when the policy goes into effect on October 19, advertisers promoting housing, employment, or credit products or services will no longer be able to target audiences based on gender, age, parental status, marital status, or ZIP code. Any existing campaigns featuring housing, employment, or credit products or services that target newly restricted audiences will no longer be eligible to serve. Advertisers should update their campaigns before this policy goes into effect to ensure they aren’t negatively impacted.

For more information about the policy and how to acknowledge these policy changes in your account, refer to the upcoming policy for housing, employment and credit in Personalized ads and to other frequently asked questions.

John Colascione

About The Author: John Colascione is Chief Executive Officer of Internet Marketing Services Inc. He specializes in Website Monetization, is a Google AdWords Certified Professional, authored a ‘how to’ book called ”Mastering Your Website‘, and is a key player in several Internet related businesses through his search engine strategy brand Searchen Networks®