Why Did I Get an Ad for a Hat-Cleaning Device Right After Wearing an Old Hat?
I haven't worn a hat in about six months, but tonight I put on an older, somewhat dirty hat that had been stored in a bag near my…
targeted advertising
Did My Phone Somehow Detect My Hat and Trigger a Targeted Ad?
I haven't worn a hat in roughly six months. Tonight I put on an older, somewhat dirty hat that had been stored in a bag near my front…
How Is Personal Data Collected, Bought, and Used?
People often warn that careless online behavior can lead to your data being sold, but what does that actually mean in practice? How do companies collect and package…
Can targeted ads predict something I only thought about?
I've noticed several cases where an ad or post closely matched something I had just been thinking about, even though I hadn't searched for it, typed it into…
Are Phones and Cameras Really Listening or Watching for Targeted Ads?
A few recent ad recommendations have felt far too specific to be random. After parking my motorcycle backwards in the garage for the first time, I saw a…