No Targeting Allowed: Christian Veterans' Ministry Denied Ad

The Mighty Oaks Foundation, a Christian organization conducting outreach to veterans, tried to post an advertisement on YouTube, but was met with a surprising message: "The following keywords violate Google Ads advertising policies." What sort of term might they have used to trigger such a message? As it turns out, the word was "Christian." 

YouTube reached out to the group directly on Twitter to explain that the word itself wasn't banned, but rather, that advertisers aren't allowed to "target users on the basis of religion." If that's the case, then YouTube should rethink its messaging so that it's clearer to users.

The organization's founder took to Twitter to decry the situation, writing: " should terrify every American; conservative or liberal, Christian or Muslim. This bias is a dangerous course for America."

Company: 
YouTube
Date: 
July 2019
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