Operations

Starbucks pauses advertising via social media

June 29, 2020

In an effort to "stop the spread of hate speech," Starbucks is pausing advertising on all social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.

"We believe in bringing communities together, both in person and online, and we stand against hate speech," according to a statement published on the company's website. "We believe more must be done to create welcoming and inclusive online communities, and we believe both business leaders and policy makers need to come together to affect real change.

The chain said the pause will continue while it discussed with its media partners and with civil rights organizations about what it can do to help stop hate speech.

Coca-Cola, The Hershey Company, Unilever, Honda and the Levi Strauss & Co. have pledged to halt advertising on Facebook as part of a boycott — #StopHateforProfit, launched June 17 by civil rights groups including the NAACP, Color of Change and the Anti-Defamation League— to condemn the social media company's failure to remove hate speech.