datar_ Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Had a weird experience today, although quite hilarious. One of my colleagues is 100% convinced Facebook is listening to him in conversation. I was a little bit skeptical on this until he showed something to me today. We were both going up the M6 earlier and we both clocked a Skoda Octavia VRS. A very nice looking car. We had a good conversation on it for about 10 minutes, how nice it looked, I even checked it's tax on my phone to see what engine size it was, how if he had the choice he'd get the Estate VRS as it looks nice in white And about and hour later, he shows me his Facebook feed, with an advert for a Skoda Octavia Estate VRS, in White... I'm still skeptical about this, but I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts or maybe has even experienced this!? Maybe this is why Facebook is reporting to use 40% of my battery on my Phone
Steve21 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 If you're using the same IP address it'll show adverts from anyone using that connection. e.g. You google'd it and now Google linked to Facebook ads about the car As an example, often get millions of bloody random womens clothes and crap showing up in my "your latest searches" in ebay etc (no they're not mine no matter what anyone says!) Steve
korifugi Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 As an example, often get millions of bloody random womens clothes and crap showing up in my "your latest searches" in ebay etc (no they're not mine no matter what anyone says!) Suuuuuure... Although what you want to do and who you want to be is perfectly okay
mthomas08 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Pretty much what Steve has said. This was something a while ago that was in the news where everything you searched for can appear on things like Facebook adverts. Even what websites you visit can do the same thing - it's all about target audience. I think the examples being used was if you search for Holidays guess what appears in Facebook - Holiday Ads. On one side not a bad idea but on the other, this data logging/analysing is going very far.
unixman_again Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 FB don't even listen if you contact them directly. We have reported a problem to them twice and all we get back is "Your feedback will be used to improve Facebook. Thanks for taking the time to make a report."
Joanne Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Guys he said HE searched for the car and then his FRIEND had the ad! You can explain it if it was on the same phone... but it was on different phones! Check what facebook has access to. I've had a similar experience. I hate facebook so much, but it's so convenient to stay in contact with friends.
Markopolo Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 this link throws up some interesting ideas on the subject. Is Facebook Secretly Listening to You to Target Ads? It's a shame FB and ilke has got so embedded into day to day life.
Arreks Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Well, it's been proven that the Facebook app has access to your camera and microphone even when you're not on it.. XPrivacy ftw.
korifugi Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 this link throws up some interesting ideas on the subject. Is Facebook Secretly Listening to You to Target Ads? It's a shame FB and ilke has got so embedded into day to day life. So, theoretically - you could alter someone's targeted ads by standing near them and talking loudly about ... 2
Tesla Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 I know it reads texts i was texting a friend about golf and within minutes i had golf ads on my fb, never had them before either.
Garacesh Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 As an example, often get millions of bloody random womens clothes and crap showing up in my "your latest searches" in ebay etc (no they're not mine no matter what anyone says!) eBay still tells me to buy dresses, when I've not been with my ex that used my eBay account for over two years now.. I mean, I understand targeted ads, but is it really 'relevant to my previous searches' if it hasn't been in my search history for 2 years? I know it reads texts i was texting a friend about golf and within minutes i had golf ads on my fb, never had them before either. That's just creepy.. And people wonder why I don't have facebook or its associated messenger on my phone? (Then again, facebook do own WhatsApp now... And I do have that...)
datar_ Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 So, theoretically - you could alter someone's targeted ads by standing near them and talking loudly about ... I have literally been shouting butt plugs to my colleague today to see if this works 2
Duranis Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 I very rarely use facebook but I when I checked it the other day it had one of the people I work with as a "person you might know". I haven't updated my facebook in about 7 years so it does not know where I work. I'm not friends on facebook with anyone that works here and I have not searched for any of them on there. I also have no mutual friends in common with this person and have not actually put anything on FB for at least a couple of years. I would love to know how facebook managed to suggest her. The only thing I can think of is maybe its pulled geolocation from our phones and seen they where near each other (which is worrying as I have that disabled on my phone) or she has mentioned my name at some point on Facebook (which is unlikely).
Garacesh Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 The only thing I can think of is maybe its pulled geolocation from our phones and seen they where near each other (which is worrying as I have that disabled on my phone) or she has mentioned my name at some point on Facebook (which is unlikely). That would be my guess. But it doesn't matter. You may have geolocation disabled, but others don't. So anyone with geolocation enabled can see your wi-fi (and the wi-fi of surrounding homes/etc) and report back geolocation data about the access points they can see. You're not reporting back geolocation data, but you are reporting wi-fi data. Thus they can reliably extrapolate that you're in the same area. I can't say 100% that facebook uses this technology, but I know Google/Android OS has the option to in order to make your GPS more accurate.
LeMarchand Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 or she has mentioned my name at some point on Facebook (which is unlikely). Secret admirer?
Duranis Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 Secret admirer? Lol would be more likely that she was moaning about me not having spent my budget yet
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