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Two days after the launch, the North Face became the biggest corporation to make the pledge. (Photo: Chris So/Toronto Star/Getty)

Why Outdoor Companies Are Boycotting Facebook

"For too long, Facebook has failed to take sufficient steps to stop the spread of hateful lies and dangerous propaganda on its platform"

Published: 
Sporting Life
(Photo: Chris So/Toronto Star/Getty)

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On June 17, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) launched the campaign, which asks businesses to suspend advertising on Facebook鈥檚 services听during the month of July. The campaign鈥檚 partners, including , ,听, and ,听assert that the social-media platform听has enabled 鈥渢he incitement of violence against protesters fighting for racial justice鈥 and has repeatedly turned a blind eye to issues that threaten American democracy.

Two days after the launch, the North Face became the biggest corporation to make the pledge,听: 鈥淲e鈥檙e in. We鈥檙e Out @Facebook #StopHateForProfit.鈥 REI followed suit shortly after, : 鈥淔or 82 years, we have put people over profits. We鈥檙e pulling all Facebook/Instagram advertising for the month of July.鈥 Two days later, Patagonia . Its听statement read, in part, 鈥淔or too long, Facebook has failed to take sufficient steps to stop the spread of hateful lies and dangerous propaganda on its platform.鈥 In recent days, Arc鈥檛eryx and Eddie Bauer have also joined the boycott.听

In all, nearly 100 companies have joined forces, but those within听the outdoor industry听have been听at the forefront.听An ADL spokesperson said they were not surprised by the outdoor industry鈥檚 involvement听but were 鈥減leased to see them lead the charge,鈥 adding听that 鈥渁ll of these companies have already shown a strong commitment to standing up to racism and taking action to make changes for the better in society.鈥

The campaign鈥檚 organizers say that Facebook makes 99 percent of its $70 billion听in annual revenue through advertising. 鈥淟et鈥檚 send Facebook a powerful message,鈥 the campaign鈥檚 website reads. 鈥淵our profits will never be worth promoting hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism听and violence.鈥澨

Outdoor recreation is among the nation鈥檚 largest economic sectors; the Outdoor Industry Association says it represents听about 听in consumer spending. The majority of that is spent on travel and transportation, but nearly听$200 billion is spent on gear, apparel, and services.

Though that the campaign will barely dent Facebook鈥檚 revenue鈥攁ccording to Quartz, Facebook has around eight听million advertisers鈥攖he campaign鈥檚 organizers note that their听goals are not strictly financial, pointing听to the symbolic impact of industry leaders joining the boycott. And it might be working. On June 18, the day after the campaign was announced, Facebook from President Trump鈥檚 reelection campaign that featured Nazi听symbols.听

For years, many outdoor companies have been vocal on political issues, primarily those focused around environmental concerns related to climate change and public lands. However, it鈥檚 not entirely unprecedented for the industry to speak up on social issues. Patagonia, for example, of Facebook in the past, and several of the听companies currently involved have expressed support for听. The North Face cites听its Explore Fund as an example of its commitment to equitable access to outdoor spaces. But 鈥渢he outdoor industry as a whole has a lot of work to do,鈥 says Steve Lesnard, global vice president听of marketing and product听for the North Face.

On June 1, Grace Anderson, director of operations and strategic partnerships at the advocacy organization , wrote a听听listing听seven 鈥渟tarting points鈥 for those in the industry serious about racial equity,including divesting from companies that 鈥渃reate harmful/unsafe environments for Black folks.鈥 The story, titled听鈥淥utdoor Industry: We Don鈥檛 Want Your Hashtags, We Want Action!,鈥澨齱as widely circulated in the outdoor community. 鈥淎 global uprising against anti-black听racism and white supremacy is happening and yet the outdoor industry is mostly silent,鈥 Anderson wrote.

鈥淲e鈥檙e in a major cultural moment of pain and recognition that is long overdue,鈥 Lesnard says. 鈥淲e have a role to play in supporting the Black community and combating systemic racism in the U.S. and within our own organization.鈥澨

In the past, it鈥檚 been good for business for outdoor companies to take a stand. But it鈥檚 too early to know how this move will affect any company鈥檚 bottom line. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 yet to be seen,鈥 says Scott Borden, director of the Outdoor Industry MBA program at Western Colorado University. 鈥淏ut if I was a betting man, I would bet on it being a good business strategy.鈥 More importantly, he听adds, 鈥渋t鈥檚 the right thing to do.鈥澨

Borden is optimistic that the outdoor industry is in a position to lead the way. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a values-driven听industry more than pretty much any other industry I can think of,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 like to think that鈥檚 the piece that鈥檚 driving this, instead of just the bottom line.鈥

For her part, Anderson is glad to see outdoor companies quickly signing on to the campaign. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really solid step in the right direction,鈥 she says. She hopes the companies are addressing equity and justice internally, too, 鈥渂y supporting their BIPOC听employees and standing up against hate and White supremacy within their organizational culture.鈥

Of course, it will take much more than a single campaign to achieve the goals social-justice leaders have laid out. 鈥淲e are just getting started,鈥 Anderson wrote in early June.听鈥淛oin us or get left behind.鈥

Lead Photo: Chris So/Toronto Star/Getty

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