Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

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If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
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On the fence about the importance of privacy? Start researching articles about using advertising data points(example article linked) (www.wordstream.com)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm wanting to get a better understanding of what the actual data is that advertising companies have on us, we all know its "a lot" we often hear.

Whilst I came across this article, which isn't exactly surprising, it is disturbing to read the following quote

Certain types of businesses or campaigns are based on selling to people experiencing certain major life events. Funeral homes, for example, obviously want to connect with people who are planning a funeral, terminally ill, or lost/losing a loved one.

The sad part is that this was published back in 2015

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 9 months ago

An extreme (and hilarious) example of the power of hypertargeting was featured in AdWeek last year, when a marketing pro targeted his roommate with ads so specific the poor guy thought he was being cyberstalked.

Yeah, it's hilarious, not at all depressing. I'm laughing all the way to a fascist dictatorship.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago

Have I been targeted by soap companies? Because I need a long, hot shower after reading that shit.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Oh no. Oh god please no.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I've been on the receiving end of one of those extreme campaigns. Let me tell you it's no joke.

Imagine we're all hatchlings running to the ocean shore for safety. Yeah, seagulls and predictors are picking us off one by one. It sucks.

Then a "life event" happened listed above and suddenly all the gulls look at you in straight in the eyes.

It was brutal. It was restless. It changed the way my family and my extended family protected themselves. I built piholes for anyone and everyone, recommended browser settings and plugins, and purchased VPN.

Stay low, stay private. And remember you're being watched.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

The really powerful thing about Facebook ads is in your ability to layer targeting options on top of one another, gradually making your audience more and more specific. An extreme (and hilarious) example of the power of hypertargeting was featured in AdWeek last year, when a marketing pro targeted his roommate with ads so specific the poor guy thought he was being cyberstalked.

🤮