> A friend and I were sitting at a bar, iPhones in pockets, discussing our recent trips in Japan and how we’d like to go back. The very next day, we both receiv

> A friend and I were sitting at a bar, iPhones in pockets, discussing our recent trips in Japan and how we’d like to go back. The very next day, we both received pop-up ads on Facebook about cheap return flights to Tokyo. > A private conversation with a friend about how I’d run out of data led to an ad about cheap 20 GB data plans > Suddenly I was being told [sic] mid-semester courses at various universities I absolutely belive Facebook can find system information like data caps, or can read notifications (as they explicitly ask for this to auto-fill SMS-based 2FA logins). As far as being in the same location as your buddy you took a trip with, that's a lack of imagination on the advertisers part - you get ads to return to Japan the same way you get ads for the vacuum you just. bought. As far as the writer possibly going back to school? I'd say many writers enjoy writing - so many, in fact, that prices have been depressed for decades. I'd assume many writers have to return to school and change careers. Is it possible Facebook is listening? I won't dismiss it without at least reading the article. But the linked article reads like the author believes people are unique and, while they are, they're also far more predicatable than we like to pretend.