Over the past several years, Google has made several well-publicized changes to its digital advertising platforms to improve user privacy and give users more control over their online experiences. These changes have become increasingly necessary as users have become more aware of how much data they unwittingly provide to major platforms.
In the last five months alone, Google announced a rash of updates aimed at moving away from cookies, improving adherence to its ad policies, protecting young users, and more. The company’s latest update aims to improve transparency and deliver more information to users about the ads they see.
Last April, Google introduced the ‘advertiser identity verification program,’ which requires all advertisers to verify information about their businesses, their bases of operation, and the products they promote. The advertiser ID program is supplemental to the “About this ad” feature, which provides information to users about why they were targeted with certain digital advertising. On September 22, the company announced an expansion of the advertiser ID program: advertiser pages.
“To give users of our products even more transparency, we are enhancing ad disclosures with new advertiser pages,” wrote Mojdeh Tomsich, Product Manager, Ads Privacy and Safety, in a Google Ads & Commerce Blog. “Users can access these disclosures in our new “About this ad” menu to see the ads a specific verified advertiser has run over the past 30 days.”
The feature will also make it easier for users to report ads that they believe violate Google’s policies.
“We’re committed to creating a trustworthy Google ad experience, and enhanced ad disclosures represent the next step in that journey,” Tomsich wrote. “We will continue to work towards helping our users have greater control and understanding over the ads they see.”
As a Google Partner digital advertising company, GrowthEngine Media supports all efforts to make online marketing more transparent and user-friendly. Feel free to reach out directly to discuss how these changes might affect your campaigns.
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