So how do advertisers know what we need?
Many people have noticed that after discussing a product out loud (for example, with friends in the company), its advertising appears on the Internet. And then the question arises-does the smartphone really listen to us and transmit data to advertisers? Now people almost always keep gadgets with them, so the assumption seems quite logical, but in fact it is a myth. Your smartphone is definitely not following you.
It all started about 8 years ago, in 2016. Then on the American TV channel there was a story in which it was claimed that Facebook* can eavesdrop on user conversations through microphones in smartphones. This sensational information was allegedly provided by Professor Kelly Burns from the University of South Florida.
However, it later turned out that in fact Burns did not say anything like that. She only noted that Facebook actively tracks people's actions on the Internet. Unfortunately, the rebuttal came too late, and the myth managed to take deep roots.
The reasons why it has taken root are quite clear. In 2016, Facebook really dramatically expanded its tools for targeted advertising. Advertisers got access to a lot of information about users — age, gender, income, interests, and much more.
And 2 years later, a loud scandal broke out with Cambridge Analytica, which showed that Facebook does not care at all about the privacy of personal data. The idea that the company can hack smartphone microphones has become even more entrenched in our minds.
However, numerous studies have debunked the legend. In 2018, researchers tested thousands of apps and found no cases of unauthorized activation of the microphone and transmission of conversations to advertisers. They just don't need it at all.
Advertising companies already know almost everything about users by tracking their online activities — search queries, messages, likes, comments, and online purchases. All this is carefully recorded and analyzed.
We ourselves constantly, often without even noticing, communicate a huge amount of personal information to smartphones. And this is a much cheaper and more reliable method of surveillance.
But even after realizing the truth, it is likely that we will continue to use convenient services and free applications. After all, the payment for them is our privacy. And as long as we agree to such a fee, surveillance on the Internet will only grow.
Many people have noticed that after discussing a product out loud (for example, with friends in the company), its advertising appears on the Internet. And then the question arises-does the smartphone really listen to us and transmit data to advertisers? Now people almost always keep gadgets with them, so the assumption seems quite logical, but in fact it is a myth. Your smartphone is definitely not following you.
It all started about 8 years ago, in 2016. Then on the American TV channel there was a story in which it was claimed that Facebook* can eavesdrop on user conversations through microphones in smartphones. This sensational information was allegedly provided by Professor Kelly Burns from the University of South Florida.
However, it later turned out that in fact Burns did not say anything like that. She only noted that Facebook actively tracks people's actions on the Internet. Unfortunately, the rebuttal came too late, and the myth managed to take deep roots.
The reasons why it has taken root are quite clear. In 2016, Facebook really dramatically expanded its tools for targeted advertising. Advertisers got access to a lot of information about users — age, gender, income, interests, and much more.
And 2 years later, a loud scandal broke out with Cambridge Analytica, which showed that Facebook does not care at all about the privacy of personal data. The idea that the company can hack smartphone microphones has become even more entrenched in our minds.
However, numerous studies have debunked the legend. In 2018, researchers tested thousands of apps and found no cases of unauthorized activation of the microphone and transmission of conversations to advertisers. They just don't need it at all.
Advertising companies already know almost everything about users by tracking their online activities — search queries, messages, likes, comments, and online purchases. All this is carefully recorded and analyzed.
We ourselves constantly, often without even noticing, communicate a huge amount of personal information to smartphones. And this is a much cheaper and more reliable method of surveillance.
But even after realizing the truth, it is likely that we will continue to use convenient services and free applications. After all, the payment for them is our privacy. And as long as we agree to such a fee, surveillance on the Internet will only grow.
