Meta has confirmed it is banning ads from TikTok and its parent ByteDance across its platforms, calling the decision "a normal business practice." The ban applies in the US, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, and also covers third-party advertisers running TikTok-linked campaigns in those countries.
The move is the latest exchange in a widening dispute. TikTok had previously banned Instagram and Facebook profile links and Meta ads from its own platform. Meta spokesperson Chris Sgro said the company does not have to run ads from a competitor whose goal is to pull people off its apps.
The clash comes as Meta faces regulatory and legal pressure over child safety. In August, Meta agreed to an $18 billion settlement with US states that required it to implement safety features on Facebook and Instagram. Legal experts have said that could push rivals like TikTok and YouTube to make similar changes. European regulators have also warned TikTok about minors' safety, with a possible fine of up to six percent of annual revenue.
Meta has been publicly pressuring TikTok and YouTube to follow its lead, including through newspaper ads. TikTok, now owned by a consortium of US and UAE investors, has said little about the ban so far.