How does my phone know.....

[more vino]

Just started watching Brooklyn 99, it's funny and I have binged the first season. On my Facebook feed today, an invitation to join a group about 'Jake Peralta's sayings' and another random group about the series. Now I know phones track sites visited/online purchases etc and whilst I'm not exactly ok with this I accept it's part of being online but how in holy hell does my phone know what I'm watching on tv?

It listens

Your phone will be listening in. I have this all the time with conversations with people, I’ll briefly mention something and the next time I’m on Facebook an ad will come up for it.

I saw a tiktok (so definitely true) that said it's things like you might talk about something to a friend, they know you were together, and then your friend Googles it, so they think you might be interested too.

How are you watching it? Streaming via the same internet that your phone is connected to? Targeted advertising. Your phone doesn’t have to listen to you, it already has all the info it needs!

I've switched off Alexa just incase it was covertly listening and gathering info and also because the one my husband bought is a big ugly thing that doesn't recognise my voice commands. If my phone is listening it must be extremely bored of us asking each other what's for dinner/ who's turn it is to take the bin out 😊

Yep, this. I work as a virtual PA, and my phone is on my desk all day. As soon as I start scrolling social media, I have ads for everything I've been talking about on my headset.

By the way, Brooklyn 99 - ace choice.

I saw a video once (I don’t remember where it was so you’ll have my inaccurate retelling!) that said it was about your IP not listening so if you stream 99 on your wifi the other phones on that IP address will get similar suggestions. No idea if that’s true…

Yes this has happened. I'll mention in a conversation in my phone that I'm looking for shoes for a night out and suddenly my Facebook will be chokka with ads for shoes. Hmmm very disturbing

I know it's fab 😀

That's what husband just said. Still a bit freaky tho

If you charge your phone at the side of your bed, you'll get spammed with ads for anti-snoring aids. Apparently. Not that I'd know, obvs .

Watching on Netflix. Can't really see how the phone (I phone) and tv (Samsung) are connected

Harriet this is genius. Husband , I'll call him R is a snorer. Honestly it's like some demented very bad trumpeter is in bed with me. I will be charging R's phone on his side tonight 😊

It's done via your IP address.. your phone isn't listening. Basically companies/ Facebook etc can track everything you do online no matter what device you are using...

Your house has an IP address (much like a street address that's unique to your house) then companies can see what that house is doing on the internet... then Google (who know everything) can use that data to spam you with relevant things.

People think there phones are listening because they are sat with their DH talking about garden sheds and then he googles it on his phone but they advertise it to both of you on Facebook for example or maybe even just you.

Facebook adds have so many controls for advertiser's like show this particular add to women over 40 who own a home in derby, who have 1-2 children between 3-4pm only on a Tuesday.

And because we spend so much of our lives using technology they can do that with amazing accuracy 😅

This article probably explains better than me

adtechexplained.com/the-future-of-ip-address-as-an-advertising-identifier/

I work in IT and marketing can you tell 😂

Xlexiix and approaching thanks, this actually makes sense. Very very disturbing that we're effectively being spied on in our own homes. Is there any way to shut this down without going off the grid? I mean I do love online shopping and MN( the cat/crab stick debacle was hilarious)

Unfortunately not there was a lot of this isnt ok ages ago but basically nothing they can do to stop it.

If you have internet in your house (which you basically need now!) You are constantly being spied on.

Your Alexa is listening and storing sound recordings of you too. You can access these but I can't remember how. You can also opt out of it storing these and get them wiped every few months - it's all in the settings.

That must be quite irritating!

Thanks for all your replies. I guess we live in an age where we rely on tech and that tech is spying and gathering data on us. Who's ultimately benefitting? What are they using our data for? I'm no tin foil hat weirdo but it can't just be about advertising. And who are'they'?

It really is, especially as one of the companies I work for is a sexual health screening service!

I was thinking the same thing about mumsnet.

I’ll have a conversation about something then a relevant thread appears in active. Seems to happen too often to be a coincidence!

It’s so creepy 😭

Agreed. It's so creepy.

And you with your username and all...😂