For most of us, Facebook is a daily reminder of stupid things we posted from 2009, and confirmation that it’s probably for the best that we lost touch with Gaz from primary school.

But while the social media platform tries to hang on to eyeballs, Mark Zuckerberg can at least rely on the Ministry of Justice for a chunk of income.

In a written response to a parliamentary question, justice minister (as we went to press) Edward Argar said the MoJ spent £171,635.80 with Facebook on ‘promoted activity’ from June 2017 to September 2018. The spend was largely to support recruitment campaigns to bolster prison officer numbers and was prominent in April 2018, when almost £72,000 was pumped into Facebook’s coffers.

Argar added: ‘Digital advertising is a cost-effective way for the government to recruit prison officers, help people find out about the courts process and all the other important information the public needs to be aware of.’

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