I heard something rather alarming yesterday on the radio

@dragon54u (31636)
United States
December 27, 2017 4:23pm CST
The talk show host was discussing how intrusive the advertising media can be and mentioned that he was talking with a friend about fixing old cars. This was a face to face conversation, not on the internet or phone. They were talking about the types of tools that they would need to fix the friend's car. Five minutes after they changed the subject they both received ads for those tools in their email accounts! I have no doubt that advertisers--and the government--keep close tabs on everyone and can listen via smartphones, Amazon Alexa devices, smart TVs, etc. It's weird that they should start being so obvious about it, though. Has this or something similar ever happened to you?
10 people like this
6 responses
@saritflor (3916)
• Hungary
27 Dec 17
That happens to me on Facebook it's hell scary to know.. they are listening to us.. and I'm afraid everywhere
2 people like this
@saritflor (3916)
• Hungary
27 Dec 17
@dragon54u I didn't know about Purity it seems like a great help on that matter thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
30 Dec 17
@bagarad I really don't know because I've never had a smartphone. It's a browser extension so I think if you add it to your browser on your phone it will work. I use Chrome on my desktop.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
28 Dec 17
@dragon54u CAn you use it on a desktop? Or only on a smartphone?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Dec 17
I think this is very worrying - another reason to put off getting a mobile of my own.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
27 Dec 17
I have a cell phone but it is an old style phone, not a smart phone. It doesn't connect with the internet at all. I don't think I will ever get a "smart" phone!
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 17
only on facebook.i clear my browser before signing in now.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Dec 17
They are being more obvious about it because they know they can get money out of people that way. They encourage people to use these devices for the "ease of use" they provide,knowing they can target them based on what they search for the most. Oh and no, this has not happened to me.. I mean not face to face conversations that end up with something in my email relating to said conversation.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
30 Dec 17
You're right about the marketing. I have also noticed that they are really pushing the products like Alexa that encourage people to let others do their thinking. Don't go look at the thermometer, ask your digital assistant! Don't look up a question, just as the assistant! Plus, we don't even have to know how to spell anymore because of spell check. If you've never seen the movie "Idiocracy" you should watch it. It shows you what marketing and the media will accomplish in just one more generation if they are not stopped. The premise is that an average guy is part of an experiment and wakes up years in the future where he is the smartest man on the planet because everyone else has been so dumbed down.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jan 18
@dragon54u That is pretty much what is happening to us. We are being "dumbed down" because we can just pick up our devices and ask alexa,cortana, or siri. There were so many Echo's sold this year over the Holiday as well...
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
28 Dec 17
I have heard that all those devices can be used to spy on you. I do not like to have anything like this in my home.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
30 Dec 17
My brother was warning me about it in the 80s. I think I'm probably the least spied-upon person I know other than him!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
31 Dec 17
@dragon54u Count us among the least spied persons. We do not even use cellphones, I keep one (turned off) in my purse that I turn on only in case of emergency.
@porwest (78726)
• United States
27 Apr 18
It has. Although I have never noticed it after a phone conversation, but then again, I don't do much in the way of social media on my phone. But as for everyone keeping tabs on me...of course they are. Unfortunately I don't think there is much anyone can really do about it. The only solution to curb some of it is to spend less and less time putting ourselves out there. But that can be tough.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
27 Apr 18
I guess it might be hard with the demands the world makes these days. I am swimming against the current, so to speak, by having a basic phone with no GPS or online capacity. That means I can't make money as an Uber or Lyft driver and many other good part-time jobs that require a smart phone. I have paper maps in my car in case I need navigation help. I never put my name on the internet, I'm on Facebook under my dog's name with no other information offered. It gets exhausting sometimes, protecting myself.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78726)
• United States
28 Apr 18
@dragon54u Unfortunately for my job I am required to have a phone, and so I can't hide as well. At least I am boring. lol.