The Ads Are Following Me!

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How Advertisers Find You Again Online

Sometimes products seem to follow you online, even through websites with no relevance to each other.

Advertisers call this technique "retargeting"

Advertisers call this technique behavioral retargeting.

They pay websites to display items in hopes you'll purchase it.

When you browse for a product, the same product will show up as advertisement, directly personalized for you in hopes you'll purchase it.

However... Social media platforms and search engines have sophisticated methods to show you your ads.

Basic form of retargeting involves saving data in an HTTP cookie in your web browser. You will be uniquely identified by data stored in your browser's cookie.

They work together and share data to better identify you.

However... Social media platforms have sophisticated methods to show you your ads. Sometimes platforms and advertisers work together and share data to better identify you.

As a result, it might seem like the advertised products are following you everywhere online.

Well, it's true, and its a deliberate attempt in trying to get you to spend your money or influence your actions.

Well, it's true, and its a deliberate attempt in trying to get you to spend your money.

What can I do?

Countries are increasingly requiring companies to be more transparent with how companies can use your data. Consumers can also demand more privacy controls from the services they use. Learn more about privacy developments from these privacy advocates and associations:

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Privacy International
International Association of Privacy Professional (IAPP)

Pick One:

I value my privacy! Give me my data back! I'm fine with behavioural advertising