A Daily Caller analysis of Facebook’s reported ad revenue shows that Russian ads placed in the United States before the election make up only 0.0000037% of their 2016 ad revenue, while Russian Facebook ads made up just 0.00019% of all digital political ad spending.
News broke in September that Russian linked accounts bought $100,000 worth of political ads in the United States.
Facebook’s self-reported ad revenue for 2016 comes out at $26,885,000,000. Russia’s $100,000 for political ads out of the social media company’s reported $26,885,000,000 in revenue makes up about 0.0000037% of all revenue.
According to Gordon Borell of Borell Associates, there was about $1.3 billion in digital ad spending in the 2016 election. The same report states, “$2 out of every $5 spent on digital ads went to social media sites, with Facebook the biggest beneficiary.” Assuming that, say, 70% of digital ads went to Facebook, there was $364,000,000 in ad spending on Facebook.
Given Russia’s reported $100,000 in ad spending, Russian ads accounted for a measly 0.00027% of all political ads on Facebook.
The mainstream media has zeroed in on alleged Russian Facebook ads this week. The narrative has been given new life after CNN broke news Tuesday that the ads targeted swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin.
Russian Facebook ads were allegedly purchased through a company with ties to the Russian government. The ads reportedly focused on LGBT issues, immigration, and Black Lives Matter.
Facebook has turned the ads over to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, but have not yet been released to the public.