Comment by deaps | Hacker News Reader

Comment by deaps | Hacker News Reader

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I find the title a bit misleading - more so puts the blame in the 'wrong' place.

Let me explain briefly. Facebook allows advertisers to pay a rate per advertisement displayed. Why shouldn't Facebook 'let' their paying customers show the ads to those they are interested in. AKA why would they pay Facebook to show their ad to people they are not interested in?

That being said - I've followed most of the discussion...and there are a lot of strong points. I just think that the title shouldn't that Facebook LET them advertise in a certain way - it should be the company that is advertising the positions only to men - although they certainly could be targeting men through that channel - and targeting women through another channel - with differing types of ads all together.

> I just think that the title shouldn't that Facebook LET them advertise in a certain way - it should be the company that is advertising the positions only to men

But that wouldn't get the clicks that propublica wants. Add facebook to the title and you get X more clicks.

Also, most jobs aren't even advertised. Especially the good jobs, like those at propublica. Seems like a none story to me but the problem is that the news has to make news to make money. Yes, even nonprofits have to make money.

> why would they pay Facebook to show their ad to people they are not interested in?

Because not doing so is illegal in most first-world countries.

What is the legal text supporting this?

There's a lot of countries we're talking about here (and I'm honestly surprised an adult who has hired someone wouldn't be aware) but from a 5 second DuckDuckGo:

> The only thing the employer has to do is avoid criteria which touch on race, religion, gender, age or disability.

> Allen M., Esq. Attorney

That quote talks about criteria, not where ads can be placed.

Placing ads limited by gender could still be viewed as limiting criteria. IANAL: go look up lawyers who have discussed ad targeting strategy as being in violation of labour laws many times before.

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