Google is introducing new advertising settings that allow users to see fewer ads related to gambling and alcohol. The feature will be available on YouTube within the US first, but will also eventually be available for all Google ads as well. The company says it will expand the feature globally “in early 2021.”
The Google Ad Settings page will soon feature a new section at the very bottom that lets you “choose to see fewer ads from these categories on YouTube.” Two sensitive ad topics “Alcohol” and “Gambling” are listed. The decision to “See fewer” ads when logged in can be reversed at any time.
This “Ad categories on YouTube” preference comes in response to user preferences and might be helpful for those working to overcome addiction or other issues. Google calls it an “extra step” that gives end-users more choices. It worked with the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking on this initiative.
Google notes it already has “policies which determine when and where gambling and alcohol ads can be shown per local laws (e.g. age restrictions),” but that the new setting is meant to give an extra layer of control for those who would prefer to avoid them. Importantly, the setting won’t eliminate gambling and alcohol ads altogether, though it should result in “fewer” ads from companies promoting these products.
