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What the Facebook News Feed Makeover Means for the Cannabis Community

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According to the Facebook newsroom, major changes are underway that will affect what content you see in your Facebook News Feed. The announcement was made on Jan. 11 by Adam Mosseri, head of Facebook’s News Feed team.

For users who were sick of seeing public news stories and ads, the changes are welcomed with open arms, but for businesses that advertise on Facebook, it could mean cannabis brands and publishers will be forced to adjust to the new algorithms.

“The first changes you’ll see will be in News Feed, where you can expect to see more from your friends, family and groups, Mark Zuckerberg posted on Jan. 11. As we roll this out, you’ll see less public content like posts from businesses, brands, and media. And the public content you see more will be held to the same standard — it should encourage meaningful interactions between people.” Zuckerberg told The New York Times that he knowingly expects people to spend less time on Facebook. With over two billion monthly users, Zuckerberg can afford to lose a little traffic.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology suggested that even 10 minutes spent on Facebook had a negative effect on one’s sense of well-being. This is undoubtedly tied to the political polarization seen in America, and the concept has been supported by other studies. News Feeds were tailor-made to fit our personal political agendas, but not without a cost.

In the cannabis industry, vendors that try to peddle cannabis on Facebook have a negative effect on the industry’s reputation. And currently, cannabis businesses that advertise on Facebook have a hard enough time as it is, despite being located in a legal state. Cannabis newsletters have been targeted as well.

A video illustrates how the algorithm changes are designed to bring us “closer together” by encouraging more interaction. It’s unclear how long it will take major companies like Facebook or Google to begin allowing cannabis ads, but for the time being, changes will affect all types of businesses.

 

 

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