Facebook Expands Ads on Third-Party Apps, Websites to Beyond Users

Facebook Inc said its customers' ads would now be visible on third-party apps and websites to everyone who has ever visited its website, and not just to users logged into its social networking service.

However, people can opt out of seeing ads on apps and websites not offered by Facebook, based on their ad preferences, the company said late on Thursday.

Facebook, like other online ad service providers, uses cookies to collect data on users' browsing habits to show them relevant ads.

The company, which has more than 1.6 billion users, offers online advertising services under its "Audience Network" business.

In the first quarter, Facebook generated more than 80 percent of its $5.20 billion ad revenue from mobile ads.

The company has been rolling out new features to ramp up mobile advertising and to encourage customers to experiment with video advertising.

Ads are reviewed against our standards and to ensure they are as respectful of people's experience as possible. For example, we don't permit ads that include sound unless you interact with them and we prohibit deceptive ads and ads for unsafe products and services. We've developed technology to determine when someone clicks on an ad on a mobile device by accident, so you don't get taken to a website or app you didn't mean to visit.

We also offer everyone controls over the ads they see, including tools to opt out of online interest-based advertising. If you have an account, you can do this directly from your Facebook settings, and we honour your choice wherever you use Facebook.

Your ad preferences also help us show you better ads on and off Facebook. If you have an account, you can edit your ad preferences to tell us if you want to see ads based on specific interests, like travel or television. Starting today, you can opt out of seeing ads on apps and websites not offered by Facebook based on your ad preferences. You can do this by visiting your Facebook settings or tapping the AdChoices icon next to an Audience Network ad.

© Thomson Reuters 2016