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Original poster

Can my phone read my mind

123 replies

crochetmonkey74 · 14/09/2023 19:41

I know this sounds mad. But over the last few months, on approx 6 occasions I have been thinking about something. Sometimes quite an obscure thing or place. I notice that within an hour , an advert comes up on the phone for the very thing. I haven't typed it on anywhere or searched anything . What is happening? Has it been just a coincidence every time?

OP posts:
Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:02

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 13:24

The mapping of shops, and shop layout schematics/shelf place management, play an enormous role in targeted marketing. To use a supermarket as an example again, they'll have an external analytics company for category management, and that company measures how fast an item sells when placed in a particular space in the shop. The supermarket builds up a picture of that data over time so as operations, you quickly start to know which are the areas of the store that sell specific products the best - you learn that shampoo sells best in particular section of aisle 2, and that moving the broad beans caused a drop in sales, that sort of thing. Those little facts over time build up a "big data' picture of how the retailer functions and allows the retailer to develop very specific, very detailed ordering algorithms for every product in every shop. It adds an enormous amount of automation to the ordering process, which decreases the time and expense for the retailer.

Then with that picture a few things can happen:
-the retailer can provide that store schematic data to ad companies, and that data acts as another triangulation point for ads. A successful ad served is a successful sale for the retailer so they have a vested interest.
-when negotiating product agreements with suppliers, the retailers can offer premium shelf space as a part of the deal, sometimes with the supplier paying outright to be placed in that #1 position - it's another ad being served to you.

Also posters have brought up confirmation bias and yes, this also plays a role. An average person is exposed to between 5,000 and 10,000 ads per day - you're remembering only a very small, relevant fraction of them. Ad platforms serving you ads take this into account, as do marketing strategists planning those ads.

All this is to say that in terms of advertising, "you" as an individual aren't being tracked but the "you" that is a part of a larger buyer persona built up out of the bits and pieces of shared data around you definitely is. It's difficult to avoid it short of becoming a hermit.

Do you know this as true? Have you worked doing this shit? The time that I mentioned, showing an ad that I have never seen before or since seems unlikely. The subject of the ad is not one that would be likely anyway.

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 14:03

Do you know this as true? Have you worked doing this shit?

Yes. It is literally my job.

EasternStandard · 15/09/2023 14:04

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 13:24

The mapping of shops, and shop layout schematics/shelf place management, play an enormous role in targeted marketing. To use a supermarket as an example again, they'll have an external analytics company for category management, and that company measures how fast an item sells when placed in a particular space in the shop. The supermarket builds up a picture of that data over time so as operations, you quickly start to know which are the areas of the store that sell specific products the best - you learn that shampoo sells best in particular section of aisle 2, and that moving the broad beans caused a drop in sales, that sort of thing. Those little facts over time build up a "big data' picture of how the retailer functions and allows the retailer to develop very specific, very detailed ordering algorithms for every product in every shop. It adds an enormous amount of automation to the ordering process, which decreases the time and expense for the retailer.

Then with that picture a few things can happen:
-the retailer can provide that store schematic data to ad companies, and that data acts as another triangulation point for ads. A successful ad served is a successful sale for the retailer so they have a vested interest.
-when negotiating product agreements with suppliers, the retailers can offer premium shelf space as a part of the deal, sometimes with the supplier paying outright to be placed in that #1 position - it's another ad being served to you.

Also posters have brought up confirmation bias and yes, this also plays a role. An average person is exposed to between 5,000 and 10,000 ads per day - you're remembering only a very small, relevant fraction of them. Ad platforms serving you ads take this into account, as do marketing strategists planning those ads.

All this is to say that in terms of advertising, "you" as an individual aren't being tracked but the "you" that is a part of a larger buyer persona built up out of the bits and pieces of shared data around you definitely is. It's difficult to avoid it short of becoming a hermit.

Or going out without a smartphone?

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:10

Tbh I do everything in my power not to be subjected to ads. The ad that appeared after I thought about it I have never seen since. There's some fuckery going on.

Oliotya · 15/09/2023 14:12

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:10

Tbh I do everything in my power not to be subjected to ads. The ad that appeared after I thought about it I have never seen since. There's some fuckery going on.

Truly, your phone is not reading your mind.

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 14:13

Or going out without a smartphone?

You could. You'd also have to do more than that - never use a single customer loyalty programme or card (obviously), and always pay with only cash because yes, your buying habits and the buying habits of those around you are absolutely linked to your debit/credit card.

Any big retailer can pull your purchase history with just that piece of data, and they use it as a part of the persona building process. Cross referencing your purchase data, location, time of day with any other piece of demographic data given at any other place or time creates a picture good enough to serve targeted ads.

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:13

I didn't say it was.

TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth · 15/09/2023 14:15

CBA to RTFT, but yes, YANBU.
This has happened to me too many times to be a coincidence. Most recently this morning. No way Alexa (for it was she) could have known I needed this thing, and I'd not mentioned it out loud to anyone.

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:17

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 14:13

Or going out without a smartphone?

You could. You'd also have to do more than that - never use a single customer loyalty programme or card (obviously), and always pay with only cash because yes, your buying habits and the buying habits of those around you are absolutely linked to your debit/credit card.

Any big retailer can pull your purchase history with just that piece of data, and they use it as a part of the persona building process. Cross referencing your purchase data, location, time of day with any other piece of demographic data given at any other place or time creates a picture good enough to serve targeted ads.

Do you think that's a good thing? Fucking hell I understand the bunker people now.

EasternStandard · 15/09/2023 14:17

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 14:13

Or going out without a smartphone?

You could. You'd also have to do more than that - never use a single customer loyalty programme or card (obviously), and always pay with only cash because yes, your buying habits and the buying habits of those around you are absolutely linked to your debit/credit card.

Any big retailer can pull your purchase history with just that piece of data, and they use it as a part of the persona building process. Cross referencing your purchase data, location, time of day with any other piece of demographic data given at any other place or time creates a picture good enough to serve targeted ads.

Yes it’d take cash too

I was just musing about the fateful day where I looked at and thought of the magnum and it came up, if I had gone to the shop without my phone the ad wouldn’t have happened

I’m a little bit aware of shopper stuff at one job I did ages ago. I know there’s a whole thing built up around it. It wasn’t my thing but I get what you’re saying

MasterBeth · 15/09/2023 14:19

UnctuousUnicorns · 14/09/2023 23:31

Oh yes, I've had experiences of spirits using tech to communicate, so this thread doesn't greatly surprise me. I have full ad blocking on my phone and tablet though, plus my location is switched off, so I don't get any of this stuff myself.
I haven't actually seen the film "The Matrix", doesn't that refer to this mass consciousness/spirit/God/call it what you will, that connects us all in thought, whether we realise or not in our mortal state, because ultimately we are all One in Spirit? Interesting to ponder... I think so, anyway.

Show quote history

It's a ridiculous thing to ponder when someone has given you a very rational, very detailed, very correct explanation of what actually happens, right here on this thread.

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:20

There's a thing going through the courts where end to end encryption is banned. I don't think that's a good thing.

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 14:22

I was just musing about the fateful day where I looked at and thought of the magnum and it came up, if I had gone to the shop without my phone the ad wouldn’t have happened.

Possibly - if you'd paid cash. There would be less of a chance if you hadn't had your phone on you for geotargeting, but it's a non-zero chance. Your card gets used in a shop which has ordered ice creams, and the ice cream manufacturer has paid for ads, so while you're not target #1 for that ad serve, you're still on the list. More so if you USUALLY have your phone on you when you're in that shop; leaving it home the one time wouldn't make much of a difference.

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:23

MasterBeth · 15/09/2023 14:19

It's a ridiculous thing to ponder when someone has given you a very rational, very detailed, very correct explanation of what actually happens, right here on this thread.

Show quote history

How the hell do you know its correct?

Grimed · 15/09/2023 14:26

I don't think it can however it's massively irresponsible that it appears that way to so many people. People are genuinely doubting their own minds and sanity over this and people with mental health issues and paranoia will be the ones to suffer most.

UnctuousUnicorns · 15/09/2023 14:26

MasterBeth · 15/09/2023 14:19

It's a ridiculous thing to ponder when someone has given you a very rational, very detailed, very correct explanation of what actually happens, right here on this thread.

Show quote history

You keep telling yourself that. 🙂

EasternStandard · 15/09/2023 14:30

gwenneh · 15/09/2023 14:22

I was just musing about the fateful day where I looked at and thought of the magnum and it came up, if I had gone to the shop without my phone the ad wouldn’t have happened.

Possibly - if you'd paid cash. There would be less of a chance if you hadn't had your phone on you for geotargeting, but it's a non-zero chance. Your card gets used in a shop which has ordered ice creams, and the ice cream manufacturer has paid for ads, so while you're not target #1 for that ad serve, you're still on the list. More so if you USUALLY have your phone on you when you're in that shop; leaving it home the one time wouldn't make much of a difference.

Edited

True.Yes to cash but also frequency

So if you want to opt out of certain ads leave phone at home for that venue and pay cash

Not that it’s worth the effort as targeted ads just reflect my preferences but just if anyone on thread fancies opting out

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:34

Facebook have said that they make shadow profiles for people who don't even sign up. Manky twat bags. I hate it so much.

Oblomov23 · 15/09/2023 14:59

I've had this. Find it unnerving. Big brother, 1984. Sometimes things Dh and I have talked about, as if Alexa or our phone is listening. Worse still when I only think about it. So how does it know? That's freaky.

LuwakCoffee · 15/09/2023 15:05

We often joke that the newspapers have our kitchen bugged. If we discuss going somewhere, a week or so later the travel section is running a feature on that place. It's quite uncanny. But often useful.

Breakawaytour · 15/09/2023 16:47

Am I the only person on here who isn't 'terrified' , personally I find it quite useful to have ads for things (I run a lot, I get a lot of running related ads which I'm more than happy to receive) I just can't imagine it even crossing my mind in Sainsburys that some data collector is busy data collecting what I'm having for dinner.

MasterBeth · 15/09/2023 17:12

Calistano · 15/09/2023 14:23

How the hell do you know its correct?

Show quote history

Because I work in a related marketing industry.

Big Data knows who you are, where you live, where you've been, what you've bought, what your education is, what TV you watch. AND it knows lots of other people who are JUST LIKE YOU. And it can extrapolate from the other things that THEY do to figure out the things about you that it doesn't know.

But, sure, your phone read your mind. Or a fucking ghost did it... 🙄

sunights · 16/09/2023 22:06

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