Parties spend thousands of pounds targeting voters on social media

"Political parties are increasingly using targeted social media ads to reach specific demographics and local constituencies. The spending on paid advertising online has been growing significantly."

"Meta's figures include spending by local branches and candidates, but only if they exceed £100 in a month, which means actual spending figures are likely higher."

"Advertisements vary from attacks on rival parties to focusing on specific policies, often targeting individual towns or demographics like age and gender."

"Dr. Emma Connolly emphasizes that paid ads provide more control over targeting, allowing parties to be specific about their audience and timing during the election cycle."

Political parties in Wales are utilizing social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram for targeted advertising. Meta provides data on spending, but only for amounts over £100, leading to underreported figures. Advertisements vary in content, targeting specific demographics and local areas. Smaller parties and independent candidates also participate in this advertising trend. Dr. Emma Connolly notes that online political ad spending is on the rise, allowing parties to control their targeting strategies more effectively during election cycles.

Read at BBC News