Facebook Has a Health Scam Problem

(nytimes.com)

38 points | by cainxinth a day ago ago

27 comments

  • darkfloo a day ago ago

    It’s only a problem for Facebook if they get prosecuted, so far it’s a problem problem for Facebook users(a very bad one to be clear). I’d love to believe they will be dragged in front of a court, but it’s unclear to me what could be charged , unless they are knowingly involved.

  • gmerc a day ago ago

    These ads compete in the supply side auction with real healthcare ads, causing massive CAC spikes for legitimate providers.

    It’s the main reason why Meta doesn’t actually ever against scammers

  • garethsprice 16 hours ago ago

    More like, society has a Facebook health scam problem (or just a "Facebook problem").

    Facebook I'm sure does not think they have a problem, as they make a ton of money from running these garbage ads with no consequences.

    • pseudohadamard an hour ago ago

      Isn't Facebook's health stuff more or less made of scams? Are there any legit health ads on there?

  • MattGaiser a day ago ago

    Facebook in general has a huge scam problem. I routinely see ads claiming to be from CBC or CNN or Reuters selling lottery software, Bitcoin engines or perpetual motion machines.

    Supplements seem to be the most legal out of all the scams regularly run.

    • masfuerte a day ago ago

      Facebook doesn't have a scam problem. Scams are making them a lot of money.

      In a less corrupt world we'd change the law so that scams on Facebook were Facebook's problem.

    • derwiki a day ago ago

      Perpetual motion ones particularly grind my gears. My dad, a retired science teacher who KNOWS better will occasionally send me these. Dad don’t you think that would be legit big news if true?

      • BenjiWiebe a day ago ago

        Obviously not, because big oil and the government would do away with the inventor and prevent the press from publishing about it.

    • bwb a day ago ago

      I see ads claiming to be BBC all the time on Reddit with similar.

    • cbsmith a day ago ago

      I was going to say: "in what way is the problem restricted to health?"

      • anonymars a day ago ago

        Or Facebook

        • cbsmith a day ago ago

          Also correct. I see the problem as particularly rampant with the video sites.

    • archerx a day ago ago

      Yet they have no problem flagging legit stuff. Back in 2019 I remember a pair of shorts (part of procedurally generated street ware fashion project) got flagged as offensive for some reason and my campaign got suspended. I reached out to Facebook and actually got a human and they unsuspended my account but the experience also made me stop buying ads from them.

    • Larrikin a day ago ago

      Why do you see ads at all? Is this just an iPhone problem?

  • childofhedgehog a day ago ago

    https://archive.is/TcZ0X

    Is it just me or should advertising medication just be illegal as a whole? If you need meds you should talk to your doctor.

    • AntiUSAbah a day ago ago

      I would have agreed a while back but now i don't.

      I think its gatekeping and there should be a way to get everything without another adult telling you no.

      There is a lot of bias around what and how and when and who can take what.

      • expedition32 a day ago ago

        Ah yes the American naivity of pretending people are not morons. The renaissance man never existed.

        • AntiUSAbah a day ago ago

          I see the issue but its not like I can go to some seminar, get educated about a specific medication/chemical and then i'm allowed to just buy it.

        • ndisn a day ago ago

          [flagged]

          • Natfan a day ago ago

            feels like a slippery slope to some eugenics bullshit

            • AntiUSAbah 10 hours ago ago

              Thats happening anyway.

              Its a class thing, poor people buy crystal, the rich buy ritalin from the doctor.

    • pjc50 a day ago ago

      Advertising prescription medication is indeed illegal in the UK. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advertise-your-medicines

      OTC is ok.

      • expedition32 a day ago ago

        They have to label those as not clinically proven. No this stuff is not going to make you look 20 again...

    • nradov a day ago ago

      It's just you. There's nothing wrong with informing adults about the existence and benefits of medications. Many consumers aren't even aware that there are medications available to treat their conditions. They don't know to ask their doctor about it. Even a lot of doctors don't stay current on new medications. There's a real knowledge gap.

      • none2585 18 hours ago ago

        No it's not just them. It's illegal in most the world

        • nradov 18 hours ago ago

          That's one of the reasons why the USA is the greatest country in the world. We do almost everything better.

  • black_13 a day ago ago

    [dead]