# Facebook bans RNIB sight loss video advert

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/09/30/facebook-bans-rnib-sight-loss-video-advert/
- Published: 2015-09-30T11:12:26+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Facebook has refused to accept a video advert by RNIB promoting its See the Need
campaign because it breaks its guidelines on a [Facebook advert](http://www.nosto.com/features/facebook-ads/)
that is“profane, vulgar, threatening or generates high negative feedback”.**

The advert, which RNIB was going to pay Facebook to be published, features a close-
up of a woman who is on the verge of tears. A narrator explains that she has just
been told that she will lose her sight. There are no shocking images or sounds, 
just the image of one person reacting to devastating news.

When RNIB queried the ban, they were told by a Facebook staff member, [according to The Guardian](http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/29/facebook-bans-degrading-charity-ad-about-sight-loss-rnib),
that ““Ads should not single out individuals or degrade people. We don’t accept 
language like ‘fear of losing your sight, losing your job?’ and the like”. Instead,
Facebook preferred adverts that presented information in a “neutral or positive 
way”.

## Advertisement

The advert has been posted on RNIB’s YouTube channel and has been viewed nearly 
60,000 times.

The [See the Need](http://www.rnib.org.uk/see) campaign was launched earlier this
month. RNIB is campaigning for every eye department in the UK to have access to 
a sight loss adviser, a specially trained member of staff who can provide practical
and emotional support to patients who have just found out they’re losing their sight.

There is no fundraising element to the campaign, but many charities use Facebook
to promote fundraising campaigns, both on a paid-for and organic basis.

[Facebook’s advertising policies](https://www.facebook.com/policies/ads/) make it
clear that they aim to protect their audience and strike a balance between letting
organisations get their message across but in a way in which its global community
feels comfortable with.
  **Update 30 September 2015, 12.22**

Facebook has reviewed the video and now approved it to appear on its advertising
network.

A Facebook spokesperson said:

> “Facebook is a place for people and organisations to campaign for the things that
> matter to them, and the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s video ad is
> a great example of that. In this instance we made a mistake, and have contacted
> the charity to let them know and to apologise for any inconvenience caused”.

 
  

![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader-
2x.gif)