The manipulation of connecting data between apps so our advertisements are tailored to our search history.
Almost everyone can tell you that they believe Facebook is ‘stalking them’, and how could they possibly know what I’ve been searching?. A lot of online users have started to notice how their recent searches have started to appear In advert forms on their platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and so on, so how is our data manipulated to tailor to our needs and interests?
Delving into the connection of internet browsing, a common factor is ‘Cookies’, on nearly every website a pop up will appear, informing the recipient that the website uses cookies and to either accept or decline the preferences. ‘Cookies’ however, is not the delicious sweet treat we know the name to be, these are in fact computerized cookies, The term “cookie” was coined by web-browser programmer Lou Montulli. It was derived from the term “magic cookie”, i.e a fortune cookie, a small item with an embedded message(referenced from Wikipedia). Cookies are text files that carry small amounts of data, these are used by websites to identify users and their networks, with specific users they identify they use to improve their web experience whilst using backtracking data upon accepting they connect on the user's network to connect to other apps such as Facebook and others to tailor the advertisements to their searches.
A lot of websites also use ‘retargeting also known as ‘remarketing’, these terms are a form of online advertising used to make their site/brand appear in the front line of adverts on specific sites and social media platforms. When you visit sites that use these particular forms of data it will track the user in order to appear when that user is browsing this is a technique used in order to get more successful sales if for example you were googling lawnmowers and visited 3 websites, their retargeting data would connect on your network so if 2 hours later you were mindlessly scrolling facebook an advert for a lawnmower at a good price would appear, reminding you what you were searching and triggering the need to possibly buy this particular item.
So the real question would be, is this all allowed? Yes. While some websites may be doing this behind your screen through your network and connecting to your apps, it is not one singular person watching you through your camera and seeing everything you're looking at to show this advert, it's simply passing data through your phone. With Cookies, accepting the use of these usually speed up your browser and improves your experience. Accepting cookies give the site permission to pass and collect data, in doing this, the little coding programmed inside your laptop, phone, or tablet is pushing unnecessary data out the way and getting to the point of what you're searching for.
Now, Apple has created a new update in which a lot of nonsocial apps will usually ask you with a little pop-up if they can use ‘data tracking’. Data used to track you refers to data from the app that is linked with your data collected from other companies' apps, websites, or offline properties, and used for ads or shared with data broker (Referenced directly from support.apple.com 2021). Accepting these tracking now allows the app to show targeted advertisements based on the user data collected, it also includes devices using or sharing location data. Apps that share location, email, or data use third-party advertising to show information targeted for that specific user.
Upon reviewing the insider information of apps and websites and the overall use of the network it's fair to say, Facebook is not stalking you, neither is any other app, in fact, they are providing almost a window for what you’re trying to see.
