Advocacy groups say ads are running on Facebook that spread misleading information about HIV prevention pills. This stops people from doing soTaking medication for AIDS. More than 50 public health organizations and advocacy groups have sent an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg. In this they demand the removal of advertising that allegedly provides misinformation about the drug Truvada.
Advertising for HIV prevention
The advertisements were supposedly from law firms. These target users with alternative sexual orientations on social media. This would see them join a class action lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, manufacturer of the drug. However, Facebook maintains that the ads do not violate company policies.
The organizations that signed the letter fear that the ads in question would discourage at-risk groups from seeking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment. This is a daily medication that HIV negative people can follow. The risk of developing the disease is therefore reduced by about 50%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Trusted Source.
“The advertising targets users on Facebook and Instagram and significantly harms public health,” the letter said. “By allowing these ads to persist on their platforms, Facebook and Instagram are persuading at-risk people to avoid PrEP, which invariably happenspreventable infections with HIVleads. They harm public health. “
Misinformation on social media
Of course, this isn't the first time that Facebook as a company has come under fire for content in targeted ads. In recent years, there has been ongoing controversy over misinformation in political ads. These appear, for example, on various platforms on the Internet.
Regarding the Gilead litigation ads in question, health officials are concerned that misinformation surrounding HIV prevention could potentially deter people who are at risk from adhering to PrEP or even developing it in the first place. People receiving PrEP treatments typically visit a doctor every three months. During these visits, they will undergo standard laboratory tests that look for adverse reactions to the medications.
All the furor surrounding the Truvada and PrEP ads comes at a time when experts and advocates are raising concerns about a lack of awareness and understanding of accurate HIV prevention information. Medical experts advise that it is best to get verified health information and always consult your doctor before taking or stopping any medication.
