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Funny how the brain works. People do realize something is happening. It’s why so many think Facebook is “listening” to their conversations then showing ads for

by theNJR 8y ago

Funny how the brain works. People do realize something is happening. It’s why so many think Facebook is “listening” to their conversations then showing ads for “products I’ve never searched for then talked to about with a friend”. No, FB inferred you would buy it because your friend just did. It’s hard to comprehend the effects of data collection. Which, of course, makes it even more powerful.

drdeadringer 8y ago
Just yesterday I read a post on Reddit where the OP was wondering about an online ad being mere coincidence or some deep data-collection plot. Per the story: They had purchased ice cream at the grocery store using a credit card "never used for online purchases", and then at home they see an online ad for that very brand//flavor of ice cream. This raised alarm bells, hence the post to sanity-check. Sometimes it's like we shouldn't fear the Terminator but the access terminal in our pocket. Other times it seems like both, or neither.
- mindslight 8y ago
  That isn't an "access terminal" in your pocket, but a fully-fledged computer and sensor platform operated by hostile actors. The ice cream is straightforwardly due to the full purchase data being backhauled to the surveillance companies. The real wtf here is assuming that a card not being "used on the Internet" affects anything. People want to cling to this really weird "if I don't see it, it can't be happening model", as opposed to realizing that the surveillance industry is based around operating without your involvement or consent.
cc439 8y ago
How would FB know what my friends have purchased? I've experienced the "ad that's way too specific to a conversation held just moments ago to be mere coincidence" phenomenon several times. Each incident has involved the kind of product neither of us owned, none of our other friends would ever buy, and dull/boring enough that no one would have a reason to post/chat about it on Facebook.
- theNJR 8y ago
  Why were you talking about this terrible sounding product? You're part of a cohort that the brand thinks would buy it. Or at least talk about.

by theNJR 8y ago

drdeadringer 8y ago

Just yesterday I read a post on Reddit where the OP was wondering about an online ad being mere coincidence or some deep data-collection plot. Per the story: They had purchased ice cream at the grocery store using a credit card "never used for online purchases", and then at home they see an online ad for that very brand//flavor of ice cream. This raised alarm bells, hence the post to sanity-check. Sometimes it's like we shouldn't fear the Terminator but the access terminal in our pocket. Other times it seems like both, or neither.

mindslight 8y ago
That isn't an "access terminal" in your pocket, but a fully-fledged computer and sensor platform operated by hostile actors. The ice cream is straightforwardly due to the full purchase data being backhauled to the surveillance companies. The real wtf here is assuming that a card not being "used on the Internet" affects anything. People want to cling to this really weird "if I don't see it, it can't be happening model", as opposed to realizing that the surveillance industry is based around operating without your involvement or consent.

cc439 8y ago

How would FB know what my friends have purchased? I've experienced the "ad that's way too specific to a conversation held just moments ago to be mere coincidence" phenomenon several times. Each incident has involved the kind of product neither of us owned, none of our other friends would ever buy, and dull/boring enough that no one would have a reason to post/chat about it on Facebook.

theNJR 8y ago
Why were you talking about this terrible sounding product? You're part of a cohort that the brand thinks would buy it. Or at least talk about.