Amazon suggestions - tracking us or coincidence?

[Fluffyavenue]

Last night I was looking at luggage on an unrelated website. This morning I get a notification from Amazon recommending me new luggage sets. Coincidence or are they somehow tracking us across websites?

Isn't that what tracking cookies are for? Most of us just agree to them without looking.

First answer nails it. All websites do this

Yup, that's what happens. Plus you will get linked 'ads' on Instagram etc. 'They' know what you are thinking... Never mind browsing...

Yup, tracking cookies! Work across apps and browsers. You’ll also get recommendations that compliment your search history and have ads pushed that compliment it (watch out for being bombarded with ads for package holidays when you’ve searched luggage!)

I only use the Amazon app and have cookies declined so thought I would be safe from this!

Of course it's no coincidence. The cookies used to be so shite they'd be spamming me to buy a new fridge freezer for weeks after I just bought one!
It's advertising. You don't want to get targeted adds for erectile dysfunction products or mobility scooters do you?

You could go in to your device and clear your cookies and whatnot.

Well I could probably cope with targeted ads for things I'm actually interested in... I was a bit upset recently though when I was targeted with ads for an "eco" coffin on Amazon!!

Ultimately though, there's not a lot you can to stop targeted ads. They find us.

I'm sure I heard you have to switch off mic permissions for stuff you say out loud but not sure where or how true it is.

I don’t think it’s the apps, it’s the phones. My OH refuses to install any and browses on DuckDuckGo which doesn’t track you and he still gets ads for things we talk about. I disabled my microphone and it made sod all difference. I think they like you to THINK they are not listening.

I am getting increasingly disillusioned by smart technology that just seems to waste my time AND still doesn’t do what I need it to, and am thinking of getting one of those Dumb Phones (texts, maps, phone only) they sell for kids. And just using my Mac, which is firmly lodged in one room, for when I actually need stuff doing.

I swear my phone listens to what I'm talking about! A couple of years ago I was talking with my DD about mattresses. Didn't actually look up anything to do with mattresses online. An hour later,I started getting plagued with adverts about mattresses,on my phone.

You have to go right in to "vendor preferences" and be sure you've turned off all the "legitimate interest" tabs as well. The "decline all" does not necessarily cover "legitimate" interest.