Google Now Lets You Hide ‘Sensitive’ Advertisements That Could Be Triggering

While the internet is often known as the wild, wild west, we often still take precautions to ensure our browsing experience is a pleasant one.

As such, Google has now added new options to its “sensitive categories” list so users can minimize the chances of an unwanted popping up and ruining their day. 

The technology giant had first introduced this new setting in December 2020 across YouTube and Google searches, preventing users from seeing gambling or alcohol-related advertisements if they so wished. 

Now, the new options will enable users to ban advertisements featuring weight loss, pregnancy, parenting, and dating.

According to Engadget, it will not only stop such pop-ups from appearing on YouTube or Google, but also across Google’s Display network, which includes millions of websites and apps.

It seems that more technology companies are stepping in to protect users from being exposed to sensitive triggers online.

As per Gizmodo, Meta introduced a similar policy last year by removing targeted advertisements for “topics people may perceive as sensitive,” such as health, race, religion, political affiliation, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. 

To change your settings, simply head to ‘Data and Privacy’ under your Google account, click on ‘Ad Settings’, and choose the appropriate categories to stop seeing advertisements related to those topics. 

[via Gizmodo and Engadget, cover image via Proxima Studio / Shutterstock.com]