Targeted Advertising

[pstovall]

This is getting creepy. Two days ago, while I was exercising, I decided to listen to an old vinyl record of classical music that I had when I was a teenager. I found the record in my record collection in an album cover that had nothing to do with classical music.  I didn't know this record was still around, and was delighted to discover it again.  I can not recall ever playing classical music while exercising in the past. In fact, it's probably been months since I played any kind of classical music at all! The next morning, I had an advertisement on my phone for an app that plays all kinds of classical music. I've never seen or heard of a classical music app before.  Coincidence or were they listening???

[countrygirl12]

I honestly do not think your phone is listening to you.  Maybe if you have some digital assistant enabled.  I have Siri disabled on my phone.  I done a test to see if the phone was "listening".  I think some things are just a coincidence.

[heypeg]

That was really weird don't you think.

[1imaginarygirl]

Oh, I completely believe any device with a microphone is listening. I've had too many situations with ads that could not have been coincidences.

[calendria]

 

I found a similar situation on this forum, you might be interested in:

https://www.fusioncash.net/forum.php?topic=88936.0


1imaginarygirl 
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Re: Alexa, Siri, Cortana, Portal by Facebook
« Reply #28 on: July 19, 2019, 07:41:14 am »

Message ID: 1284914
Quote
Quote from: countrygirl12 on July 12, 2019, 05:54:39 am
Quote from: 1imaginarygirl on April 28, 2019, 01:56:19 pm

Haven't you ever had a time where you were talking, not using your phone but with it nearby, and suddenly whatever you were talking about shows up as an ad the next time you go on Facebook or something similar? This happens frequently to me. One time I was talking to my husband about one of my company's clients. My husband had never heard of that client before, so also had never talked about or searched online for it. But the next time he opened Facebook, there was an ad at the top for that very client. Last weekend my mom was talking about getting an on demand water heater for the cabin. I was curious to see how much they cost. I went to Google on my phone and started typing "on d" -- three letters -- and the first suggestion that came up was "on demand water heater", not "on demand videos" or "on demand music" which I think would be more common searches. My mom freaked out a little when I told her. 

[countrygirl12]

I found a similar situation on this forum, you might be interested in:

https://www.fusioncash.net/forum.php?topic=88936.0


1imaginarygirl 
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Posts: 588 (since 2016)
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Re: Alexa, Siri, Cortana, Portal by Facebook
« Reply #28 on: July 19, 2019, 07:41:14 am »

Message ID: 1284914
Quote
Quote from: countrygirl12 on July 12, 2019, 05:54:39 am
Quote from: 1imaginarygirl on April 28, 2019, 01:56:19 pm

Haven't you ever had a time where you were talking, not using your phone but with it nearby, and suddenly whatever you were talking about shows up as an ad the next time you go on Facebook or something similar? This happens frequently to me. One time I was talking to my husband about one of my company's clients. My husband had never heard of that client before, so also had never talked about or searched online for it. But the next time he opened Facebook, there was an ad at the top for that very client. Last weekend my mom was talking about getting an on demand water heater for the cabin. I was curious to see how much they cost. I went to Google on my phone and started typing "on d" -- three letters -- and the first suggestion that came up was "on demand water heater", not "on demand videos" or "on demand music" which I think would be more common searches. My mom freaked out a little when I told her. 

No.  I have never had this happen.  I have had things show up (when I done facebook) in an ad that was something I googled on my phone.  I don't do facebook now so I don't care.  And the thing I googled was something for my boss at work and how to spell it and it was something I never would have looked up on my own nor would I have an interest in.

[tnshpalmer85]

I have never had it happen to me, but I have heard it happen to other people. I think the devices are listening to what people and targeting them with ads.

[pectacon]

I've heard a lot of stories like this. I think a fair amount are coincidences, or rather you are being targeted, but not as directly as you think. They can put together a ton of information on you based on web browsing, who your friends are, stores you've visited, etc. and put together a fair idea of your projected interests.

That said, these house gizmos absolutely have to be listening at all times. People say "oh it isn't listening because it isn't activated until you say Hey Alexa" but I'm thinking... doesn't it have to be listening already in order to tell whether you said that?

[countrygirl12]

I have never had it happen to me, but I have heard it happen to other people. I think the devices are listening to what people and targeting them with ads.

You have to have that turned on for it to happen.  Siri is disabled on my phone.  If you have your phone, tv, smart speaker, or whatever in your area and you have it set up so you can just talk to it and then it responds it can listen.  But a regular tv set cannot listen to you.

[countrygirl12]

I've heard a lot of stories like this. I think a fair amount are coincidences, or rather you are being targeted, but not as directly as you think. They can put together a ton of information on you based on web browsing, who your friends are, stores you've visited, etc. and put together a fair idea of your projected interests.

That said, these house gizmos absolutely have to be listening at all times. People say "oh it isn't listening because it isn't activated until you say Hey Alexa" but I'm thinking... doesn't it have to be listening already in order to tell whether you said that?

It is also the same with the receipt apps and all the other apps you use on your phone.  Of course they sell your info.  Just because you send me an ad for xyz doesn't mean I will pay attention to it or purchase the items.  I do not pay much attention to any ads.  There are a couple of ads that are clever that I like to see on tv but I am not going to buy the thing they are pushing.

[countrygirl12]

OKAY!!!  Something totally weird happened yesterday. I am sure it is a coincidence but it was odd and I thought of this conversation.  A friend was asking about some weird contraption I have never heard of and was wanting to buy one.  I had googled it as well as looked on Walmart, Walgreens, and Amazon for this item.

I was doing a survey last night and it said have you ever purchased any of these items and had a list of 4 items.
THAT item was in the list.  It is not a common thing that I would think most people would ever purchase.