to think my phone is listening to my thoughts?

[randomer]

Apologies I know this sounds madness and it has been aired recently and AIBU isn't the right place but..........

I was thinking of possibly getting a small cabin type holiday home...up it pops.
I was thinking about relaying a small area of lawn at home....up it pops
Neither idea have I discussed with anybody not googled .

When you're on Facebook, it monitors which posts you spend longer looking at, which ads catch your eye, what pages you like.

You're leaving more of a footprint than you think you are!

If your microphone is on then yes it does listen to your conversations

As does Alexa

And if it’s all linked you won’t even need to be in the same room as your phone for relevant ads to pop up

I thought most people know their devices listened in unless you switch it off

Here’s where to switch it off

And this part too

What has likely happened is that you have seen one online somewhere - even just in a friend’s post. You may have been barely aware or maybe even not really registered it when you saw it but your eyes may have glanced at it for longer than necessary, or your scrolling may have slowed.

YANBU There is definitely some strange mind reading going on. Freaks me out all the time.

Time for a tin foil hat

no conversation about these things, no Alexa, rarely on fb

I've had something similar happen OP and it proper freaked me out

Same here, spooky

Either you have done something online that prompted those targeted adverts (however small, it doesn't have to be actively searching for those things), or you are just noticing things you have thought of more than other adverts due to confirmation bias.

They are not uncommon things for people to be thinking about doing anyway though (especially a certain demographic, which they do have information on already, i.e. the type of person you are and therefore the other things you might want).

Sorry to comment on an old thread.
But spooked out today.
Had a painful toe and so thought I would soak it in a bowl of water.
I’m alone in the house , so didn’t talk to anyone. No phone calls etc.
I have a foot bath machine and was thinking shall I get it out . So was thinking this only -no speech.
As I was sitting with my foot in the water , I picked up my phone - ads for footpaths appeared. One after the other - maybe ten adverts.
The only explanation is the phones can now read our thoughts .
Googling this seemed it was predicted that this would be possible in 2011 ,seems technology has caught up.