POV: Google Launches Ads Transparency Center

Background:

In a bid to prove its commitment to safe and transparent advertising Google has launched The Ads Transparency Center, which allows users to learn more about the ads they see across its platforms.

Details and Implications:

Google's Ads Transparency Center is a searchable hub of all ads served from verified advertisers on Google Search, YouTube and Display. It will allow users to search for ads from a brand by topic, advertiser or website and filter by region to see where the ads were shown. Information will also be available on when the ads ran and the ad format. The service will roll out globally in the coming weeks.

The aim is to give users more transparency about the ads they see. For example, if you are interested in a product or service you've seen in a Google Search Ad, you can use the Ads Transparency Center to learn more about the brand before visiting the website. Users can also block or report an ad for violation of Google ad policies if it shows inappropriate content.

Google said of the Ads Transparency Center: "This one-stop shop was designed with you in mind by ensuring you have easy access to information about the ads you see from Google."

The Ads Transparency Center's launch follows the release of My Ad Center in October, which users can visit in their Google account. In My Ad Center, users can review ads seen recently on Google and adjust ad settings to have more control over the ads they see by removing specific topics or brands or turning off personalised ads completely.

The Ads Transparency Center can be accessed directly via a link or by following the three-dot menu on a specific ad to see more information on the My Ad Center page.

Advertisers can potentially benefit from reviewing the Ads Transparency Center content too. It could prove to be a helpful research tool to understand how competitors are using Google ads and discover more about what users do and don't want to see and in turn understand how to create ads better suited to their target audiences.

Summary:

The Ads Transparency Center builds on Google's previous work to give consumers more information about the advertisers and adverts they see. By allowing users to learn more about the ads they see across its platforms and confirming if the business is verified, Google hopes consumers will feel more comfortable clicking on the ads and buying the associated goods and services from the advertiser.

Further Reading:

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