To think amazon are spying on me through my phone?

[DojaCat]

I've been going through phonics books with DD for the past couple of days.

I haven't bought anything, I've just been using books that have been sitting on the shelf for months that I bought from Costco, so nothing to do with Amazon.

I'm wondering if amazon have been listening through my phone somehow (audio?) as now they're recommending phonics books to me.

I'm freaked out and pissed off. I even get some MN adverts are for things DP has bought online and not through me which is weird.

Wtf is going on?

You need to get rid of your smartphone and not go online if you want to avoid this.
It's not just Amazon. Facebook, Instagram, Mumsnet... are all at it as your data is money to them.

Have you only just realised this? You'll get the same on Facebook ads...your phone listens to you having a chat to someone about buying a new mattress, lo and behold you'll get mattress adverts popping up.

Putting your smartphone away (cupboard, bag in hallway etc) helps though. Not many people actually need to have their phones right next to them at all times.
Don't download apps and don't put personal information on them. Don't have an Alexa (or similar). Don't use Whatsapp. That will help.

I wouldn't give Alexa house space

This has literally happened to me for the first time I'm aware of this afternoon.

I recieved a text reminder for my dentist appointment next week, and on the end of the text message they said that they now do something called "Invisalign". Less than 30 seconds later, an advert pops up randomly on the YouTube video I was watching on the smart TV advertising Invisalign.

Amazon have an incredibly sophisticated purchase prediction system, so I agree with PP that they probably guessed that you have a child in the age range for a phonics book based on previous purchases and/or information that have been tracked from other websites.

For instance, they know that X% of people who have purchased a particular video game are going to purchase the sequel. Once that comes out, "your" copy of the game is already at your nearest warehouse just waiting for you to click the order button. You might think you have free choice, but Amazon knows that statistically, you are actually more likely to buy the game that they've already packaged up for you than not!

This has happened a few times to me as well with random things that I'm 100% positive I didn't type or search for online. I also think it might often be coincidence because we are bombarded by hundreds of ads a day and get used to blanking those out (I can't think of a single once that was shown to me today, although there must have been loads). However if you happen to have thought about a holiday in a certain place, and that country pops up as an ad then you'll immediately notice and remember it.

Switch off the microphone function on your phone and iPad.

Not Amazon but I was talking to a guy friend about men's suits and a couple of hours later an advert for Moss Bros came up on my phone. The spying is real!

PS watch last week's Panorama... It's literally about Amazon spying!