How to Stop Getting Facebook Ads in December 2024

You may get tons of unwanted Facebook ads when all you want to do is see the latest news about your friends. If browsing Facebook has become more of a hassle than a form of entertainment, you can stop those ads. 

Keep reading to learn how to block Facebook ads, including using an ad blocker and adjusting your Facebook settings. 

7 ways to stop ads on Facebook

When you want to stop seeing all those Facebook ads, you can use ad blockers or internet browsers that block ads. Plus, there are Facebook preferences that you can change.

Facebook lets you block specific types of ads or hide the ads you don’t like. You can go into the settings and adjust the preferences to reflect your tastes. You have more control than you may think over the ads you see on Facebook. You can even hide ads from a certain advertiser and not see them again. 

We'll discuss specific steps for each option so you can choose the right one(s) for you.

1. Use an ad blocker

An ad blocker removes advertisements that intrude while you’re on the internet. When you visit a site, the ad blocker checks for anything that’s blacklisted and flags it as advertising material. Blocking ads on Facebook is also helpful for preventing malware. Some ads may contain viruses that could potentially be downloaded to your device. 

Many ad blockers will remove Facebook ads, but not all of them work, so you may have to experiment to find the best one. You can choose ad blocker apps for your mobile device or download an ad blocker extension for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. An ad blocker extension may also work with popular browsers like Opera, Firefox, and Vivaldi.

A few of the popular options for ad blockers we've extensively tested and researched include:

• Total Adblock: Total Adblock is an easy, hands-free solution ad blocker. The free browser extension blocks ads, pop-ups, videos, and third-party tracking. If you opt for the paid plan, Total Adblock blocks unlimited ads and browser notifications, plus it includes antivirus protection. Plus, Total Adblock premium includes the award-winning antivirus software TotalAV. 

  Read Our Total Adblock Review
  

• NordVPN Threat Protection: NordVPN is an excellent virtual private network (VPN) with an ad-blocking feature. NordVPN Threat Protection blocks pop-ups, ads, and banners with its mobile app, desktop app, and desktop extension. It also stops third-party websites from collecting your information. Plus, you get all the privacy power of a VPN, which helps keep your data and internet activities private. 

  Read Our NordVPN Threat Protection Review

• Surfshark CleanWeb: Surfshark also offers a cybersecurity suite that bundles its Surfshark VPN with an ad blocker. With Surfshark CleanWeb, you can block ads, trackers, and malware to keep your web browsing experience fast, private, and safe from cyber threats. 

  Read Our Surfshark CleanWeb Review

• uBlock Origin: uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad blocker. It works on most browsers and offers customization options, such as enabling region-specific blocklists and using filters to block domains known to contain malware.

  Read Our uBlock Origin Review

Featured ad blockers to consider

2. Use a browser that blocks ads

If you’re using a popular browser to go online, the chances are good that you’re not using an ad-blocking web browser. Browsers like Google Chrome may allow websites to collect personal data when you shop or search online.

Some web browsers have built-in ad blockers. These browsers detect ads and block the scripts, loading the pages faster without advertisements. When you use a browser that blocks ads, you may even be able to use it on an older device or with a slower internet plan because the pages load up to 90% faster.

Getting quick load times and ending online stalking by websites will make your Facebook experience much better. There are a few web browsers that offer ad-blocking protection for social media and other internet uses:

1. Brave: The Brave browser claims to block ads and trackers on every website you visit. That gives you better load times and longer battery life on mobile devices.
2. Opera: Opera lets you browse ad-free on your desktop and mobile device. You can also sync your devices and share files. Opera even comes with a free VPN for extra security.
3. UR Browser: UR Browser is a customizable browser with three privacy levels, two of which include an ad blocker. It can also block trackers and third-party cookies and reduce your digital fingerprint.

3. Hide ads

If you don’t want the hassle of downloading special browser extensions or changing the browser you already use, you can choose to hide the ads instead. Facebook makes hiding unwanted ads simple. It only takes a few steps to complete the process.

According to Facebook’s terms of service, you can’t opt out of seeing ads, but hiding them will influence what the social media platform allows across your feed in the future.

Once you do this, you give Facebook feedback on the advertisements you don’t want to see. Here are the easy steps to hiding ads on Facebook:

1. Click the ellipses (three dots) at the top right of the ad. Select Hide ad.

2. If you want to hide all posts from a certain Facebook page or advertiser, you can choose the option to hide all from that specific company.

3. You can also click on the three dots, then Why am I seeing this ad? and click the Hide button next to Hide all ads from this advertiser.

4. Block certain types of Facebook ads

You may have specific types of ads you don't want popping up while you scroll through your newsfeed. Scrolling your Facebook newsfeed may feel less intrusive and creepy when you control the types of ads you do see.

Facebook allows you to choose to see fewer ads for certain topics while on the platform. These include topics like alcohol, elections, politics, and social issues.

An example of blocking certain ads might be during campaign times. You may be sick of politics, but the last thing you want is to see more campaign ads while you’re online. Other topics may go against your beliefs or dietary restrictions, and you don’t want to see ads that revolve around them.

Adjusting your Facebook ad preferences is simple:

1. Log into your Facebook account and click on your profile picture in the top-right corner.

2. Go to Settings & privacy, then click on Settings.

3. Select Ads in the left menu. Choose the topics you want to see less of and then click See Less.

5. Turn off personalized ads on Facebook

Facebook may use your data to show you personalized ads based on your interests and past searches. If your interests have changed, or you simply don’t want Facebook using your profile information to make these suggestions, you can turn this setting off.

To change your personalized preferences, follow these steps:

1. Go to your Settings > Ads > Ad settings > Activity information from ad partners.

2. Turn the toggle button to Not Allowed.

6. Report inappropriate ads

If you’re seeing inappropriate ads on Facebook, you can block them.

But why are you seeing these ads? This can happen for different reasons. You may have been logged in to Facebook while browsing certain products.

You may also fit a target demographic to which a business requests their ads to be shown. Another reason could be that you’ve purchased from that company before, and it’s specifically targeting you.

No matter the reason for getting those inappropriate ads, you can stop them. Facebook allows you to report ads for the following reasons:

• Misleading or scam
• Sexually inappropriate
• Offensive
• Violence
• Advertisers pretending to be someone else
• Prohibited content
• Spam
• False news
• Political candidate or issue
• Other

When you want to block an ad you believe is inappropriate, you can follow the steps below:

1. In your newsfeed, click the three dots next to the ad you’re reporting.

2. Click on Report Ad, then follow the instructions to select the reason you are reporting it.

7. Use antivirus software

One of the best methods to use when you want to block ads on Facebook is to get an antivirus program that includes an ad blocker. This solution gives you malware protection and works to safeguard your private data while removing those annoying ads. Many of the best antivirus programs also protect against phishing scams, which are sadly fairly common on Facebook Messenger and Facebook Marketplace. 

If you're looking for antivirus, TotalAV and its ad blocker, Total Adblock, are two of our favorites after testing. TotalAV also includes phishing protection, and its WebShield feature tells you if a site or link is safe. On top of that, the TotalAV Antivirus Pro plan starts at a reasonable annual price, so you won't have to completely redo your budget.

Why am I seeing so many ads on Facebook all of a sudden?

There are several reasons why you may see ads on Facebook, and they all have to do with the fact that Facebook attempts to personalize the ads you see. When you show interest in specific products while you browse online, Facebook may use that to tailor the advertisements or products you see on your newsfeed.

Here’s a breakdown of different reasons you might see so many ads on your Facebook feed.

1. Retargeting

If there are websites you’ve visited previously, you may receive retargeted advertisements. Sites use retargeting ads to send out advertisements to prior visitors or people in an email contact list.

One goal of retargeting is to draw in new customers through social media ads and email. If you haven’t heard of a company, retargeting shows you more information about its product or service and makes the message more personal by appearing in your newsfeed.

Retargeting ads come in two flavors: pixel-based and list-based retargeting.

Pixel-based retargeting

Pixel-based retargeting uses JavaScript to place a pixel, or cookie, on a site visitor’s web browser. The cookie alerts the retargeting platform when the visitor leaves the site and continues browsing the internet so the retargeting platform can serve up ads on the new sites they visit. These ads are often related to the specific pages the visitor viewed on the website.

List-based retargeting

This type of retargeting allows the site owners to upload a contact list for a social media advertising campaign. The ad platform uses the contact list to identify individuals who use the same contact information on the social media site and serves retargeting ads to them.

2. Sponsored ads

Sponsored ads are paid advertisements launched from a Facebook business page. Sponsored ads are sent to a target audience to generate reactions, likes, shares, comments, and views. 

A sponsored ad is an attempt by a business to draw in a larger audience that may also convert into more customers who purchase the advertised products or services.

3. Demographics

Businesses use demographics to create marketing strategies. Demographics identify audience members by their characteristics, wants, and needs and include data like age, gender, location, and income. Companies use this data to understand who buys their products and what items appeal to different groups in a population.

With demographic data, companies can send targeted marketing ads to people they think are more inclined to make a purchase. Demographic data can also keep ads from going to the wrong audience.

4. Interests

When you show interest in products or services, Facebook may use that data to send you specific ads. The platform collects tons of information about your behaviors and preferences. Different sources provide this data, including the entire Facebook ecosystem as well as third-party data providers.

Facebook also gathers this data through pixel-based retargeting and a Facebook cookie that collects user data from other websites.

If you’ve engaged with social media posts, groups, or visited websites, that data can be used to gain insights into your interests. It isn’t a perfect science, though. You may comment on a friend’s page about a new iguana pet and even put a cute emoji at the end, but that doesn’t mean you want one, too.

5. Behavior

Facebook also uses your behavior on the platform to show ads on your newsfeed. The idea is to send you ads based on your purchase behaviors or buying intentions.

Putting an item in your shopping cart may show you intend to buy the product. When you show Facebook how you spend your money, marketers know what you might purchase in the future.

Can Facebook ads read your mind?

All jokes aside, no, Facebook ads can't read your mind. But companies like Facebook use internet cookies to remember your preferences, including what types of content you look at, what you shop for, and who you follow on social media.

With this information, Facebook can send you ads it thinks you'll be interested in. And it sometimes seems like the Meta site can read your mind because those ads can be eerily accurate.

How do I get my Facebook newsfeed back to normal?

If your Facebook newsfeed seems taken over by ads, you can change your Facebook settings to reflect your preferences. Making a few adjustments could hide some of the ads and get your Facebook newsfeed back to normal.

Here’s how to control the ads you see on the platform.

1. Go to your profile picture on Facebook.
2. Choose Settings & privacy, then select Settings.
3. Click Ads in the menu to view the advertisers you’ve seen ads from recently.
4. Here, you can review your Ad Settings and choose whether Facebook can show you personalized ads.
5. Next, go to your Ad Preference page and choose Advertisers. Look for Advertisers You’ve Seen Most Recently, then click Hide Ads next to any advertisers you don’t want to see ads from in the future.

You can also change ad topics from your profile picture.

1. Go to Settings & privacy, then choose Settings.
2. Click Ads in the menu and then choose Ad Topics. Beneath Data-driven topics, click the topics you want to see less of, then click See Less.

FAQs

Bottom line

If you’re tired of seeing so many ads when you’re on Facebook, you’re not alone. You may not agree that the ads Facebook sends are relevant to you. Or it could be that you feel the content is inappropriate, and you don’t want to see those kinds of ads.

The good news is that you can use various methods to block some of the ads you don’t want. (You may still get ads on your feed as Facebook generates income from these advertisers.) When you want to block those pesky ads, you can try one of these options:

• Use an ad blocker extension or app.
• Use a browser that blocks ads.
• Hide the ads.
• Turn off personalized ads.
• Report inappropriate ads.
• Install antivirus software that has an ad blocker.
• Update your privacy settings.