The Russian Facebook ads had no impact

LETTERS LETTERS@USATODAY.COM

Americans are bombarded every day with junk ads, many of which now target specific groups as described in USA TODAY’s story “How Russian manipulators were able to target Facebook users.” So what’s the big deal?

I don’t know anyone who likes Facebook ads, TV ads or mailboxes stuffed with catalogs. Nevertheless, we are flooded with ads, and we have learned to ignore them. The people who reviewed the 3,517 Facebook ads bought by Russians, such as USA TODAY did, say that it’s hard to measure the effectiveness of them.

They had no impact! Conversely, Hillary Clinton raised and spent over a billion dollars selling herself to the American people. She used the same algorithms on Facebook to target Americans in groups, as well — such as African Americans and Latinos. Have people checked to see how many of those ads were truthful and impactful? Jim Conner St. Davids, Pa.

These Russian-bought ads sound like a national security issue. Really more of a war tactic, I think. Kevin McCloud

Weaken the enemy before striking him. Russian President Vladimir Putin is the most dangerous enemy America has faced in my lifetime. Islamic terrorism may hurt us, but it cannot destroy us. Putin has bigger plans.

Rich Barnes

The only people affected by a Russian Facebook ad that was trying to influence racial discourse in the American population were people who are racist and would have been drawn to ads of this nature.

In addition, all any Facebook user had to do was block or unfollow any type of these kinds of “bogus” ads.

Gary Kissick