Do you mind being "followed" online?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I was shopping online at JCPenny. I noticed that they had sneaks on "sale" for $189. Ain't no way I was going to but them, but I clicked on them just to see them. Then I did some online shopping in Lowes., which gives the aisle and bay numbers, so you easily can find them in the store. When I turn on my computer, there are all these sneaker ads and ad for things I was looking for online. I don't like that feelin like I'm being "followed". To me, it's kind of creepy. Do you mind being "followed" online?
 

Yes, I mind it, and it happens all the time. When you click on ads, you often get what they call a "cookie" attached to your ID, which alerts sellers that you have expressed an interest in that item. (Or that trip; once I looked up car rentals in New Zealand, and was plagued with ads from New Zealand car rental companies for months!)

And even worse, once I looked up bras, thinking I might buy one online. (I didn't.) But every day, I got a new selection of borderline-porno pictures of gorgeous models in their underwear. I finally got rid of it by pretending to be "interested" in something a little less, er, dramatic, which replaced the models.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I was shopping online at JCPenny. I noticed that they had sneaks on "sale" for $189. Ain't no way I was going to but them, but I clicked on them just to see them. Then I did some online shopping in Lowes., which gives the aisle and bay numbers, so you easily can find them in the store. When I turn on my computer, there are all these sneaker ads and ad for things I was looking for online. I don't like that feelin like I'm being "followed". To me, it's kind of creepy. Do you mind being "followed" online?
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Yes, so much so I do as much as possible to confuse them which is a pain.
 
The only time I notice it is when I’m on my hometown newspaper’s website. The advertising is all related to my recent searches.

It doesn’t bother me but it is a waste of technology. I probably do a thousand random searches for each purchase that I eventually make.

I suppose the good news is that it allows for experimentation and eventual advances in technology not to mention creating a few jobs.
 
Just this morning..I was really irritated...by something..

I'd just been talking to o/h about a certain tyre repair company who were due to arrive to repair his car on the drive..

At no time had I ever googled this company, or watched anything about it online.. yet about 10 mins after I mentioned this company's name , I turned my Youtube on and the first Video was about mechanics for that particular company working on a car.

The only thing that could have caused that was my Google Home Hub which sits on my desk ostensibly ''off' and not 'listening' unless it supposedly gets the 'wake word ' !!:confused:
 
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It actually almost never happens to me, as I dump my browser cookies fairly frequently during the day. I've set it up so that it can be done quickly.
 
No! I don’t and if I’m willing to delete all my cookies each day, I won’t but I don’t so I am.( followed that is )
Haha. When I first noticed it years ago, it really freaked me out but now I’m used to it. It’s still feels somewhat spooky though and I don’t particularly like it.
 
Get them all the time. Luckily I don't shop for anything nefarious online. I get chewy, Art America, clothing, fans. Whatever I looked at recently. It's kind of weird but I ignore it.
 
Usually I just ignore them. Sometimes I’ll notice something odd and wonder why they think I want ‘that’.
 
You are going to get ads anyway so they may as well be something you might be interested in. It's probably only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what they know about you. Who are "they" anyway? It could even be the government. They locate online child predators quickly so it's not all bad, but still...
 
I don't stress about it. I know I'm being "Followed" but online shopping is so damn convenient, it's a small price to pay - at least for me.
 
Devi said:
How to Clear Internet Cache in Every Major Browser
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-clear-cache-2617980
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When you click on that link you get:

"Your Privacy Rights"​

"Lifewire and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development."

It does tend to defeat the object.
 
horseless carriage said:
When you click on that link you get:

"Your Privacy Rights"​

"Lifewire and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development."

It does tend to defeat the object.
Click to expand...
Huh. I don't get that at all -- I get a page explaining and showing how to clear a browse cache.

At any rate, if interested, you could always use a search engine to find out how to do it.

[Added] I also tried it in the Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi browsers -- got the same page.
 
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fuzzybuddy said:
I was shopping online at JCPenny. I noticed that they had sneaks on "sale" for $189. Ain't no way I was going to but them, but I clicked on them just to see them. Then I did some online shopping in Lowes., which gives the aisle and bay numbers, so you easily can find them in the store. When I turn on my computer, there are all these sneaker ads and ad for things I was looking for online. I don't like that feelin like I'm being "followed". To me, it's kind of creepy. Do you mind being "followed" online?
Click to expand...
No! If I decide not to buy something, it is because I don’t want it and never will. I am 74 and I get all those unwanted ads about senior centers, meds, Dr’s, signs and symptoms of everything in a medical book. Drives me Bonkers. I report them, but they come back with a vengeance.
 
It seems eerie at times but it’s the world that we live in these days. Everyone wants you to be their piece of the pie. It looks as if George Orwell and others were right.

eye.jpg
 
Devi said:
Huh. I don't get that at all -- I get a page explaining and showing how to clear a browse cache.

At any rate, if interested, you could always use a search engine to find out how to do it.

[Added] I also tried it in the Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi browsers -- got the same page.
Click to expand...
No problem, I just click on history, then delete it, then I clear the browsing data and finally
I delete all browsing history. It not only wipes my internet tracks clear, it stops the computer from slowing up.
I do it everytime I switch off, takes about five seconds.
 
horseless carriage said:
No problem, I just click on history, then delete it, then I clear the browsing data and finally
I delete all browsing history. It not only wipes my internet tracks clear, it stops the computer from slowing up.
I do it everytime I switch off, takes about five seconds.
Click to expand...
Thanks, horseless carriage. Yep, that's what I do, too.
 
I think it is kinda funny actually...sometimes I will type some wierd thing in the search bar, something I would never buy,
and just see what sort of stuff they tempt me with LOL.....;)
 

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