Advocates Demand Reform in Meta's Advertising Review Process To Eliminate Biases Against Women's Health Advertisements
Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,
We represent a diverse group of advertising and marketing executives and women's health advocates writing to you today to draw your attention back to a critical issue that impacts inclusivity of advertising and patient-focused education on your platforms.
The Center for Intimacy Justice (CIJ) has been at the forefront of identifying the biases present in the advertising review processes on platforms such as yours—the efforts of which we are sure you are already aware.
The CIJ’s research has been instrumental in bringing us to this point. We are writing to further illuminate and address this ongoing yet-to-be-rectified issue. There continues to be a glaring discrepancy in how advertising targeting women’s and men’s sexual health and wellness is reviewed on your platforms.
In healthcare marketing and medical affairs education, clear communication can be the difference between safety and harm. Using accurate terms like “vulva,” “vagina,” and “Kegel” is essential for women to understand their bodies, know their options, and take charge of their health. That is why we advocate for the usage of correct terminology.
Despite this, ads promoting women's health products are regularly and permanently rejected, while advertising aimed at men for erectile dysfunction products or solutions to prevent premature ejaculation are readily approved.
The censorship not only renders our marketing efforts ineffective and sometimes impossible, but it also perpetuates a harmful narrative that women's health is something to be ashamed of or hidden. Our struggle with these platforms' policies extends beyond a matter of business; it is a fight—which it should never be—for women to see their health concerns addressed openly and accurately.
Our message is clear: Women’s health is not obscene. The stark contrast in the treatment of women's versus men's health-related ads suggests a bias that Meta must investigate further and rectify.
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Please address the discriminatory practices that disproportionately affect ads related to women's health and sexual wellness, starting here:
We would love to host a meeting to discuss how we might rectify these issues and start making a change in the women’s health marketing and advertising space.
We believe these actions not only are necessary for promoting fairness and equality on your platforms but also align with Meta's stated commitment to supporting diverse communities and fostering an inclusive digital environment.
This could be a turning point—a moment to enable growth, learning, and unity in our collective approach to women’s health for Meta. It is within your ability to make this a reality. We ask that you seize this opportunity and stand with women in their pursuit of health.?
The undersigned: