That's been around for some time now. Targeted ads. Advertising IDs allow companies to track what you do, and such and use that. Google Home and Amazon Alexa are ad machines with always on microphones you willingly bring into your home, even just on your cell.

Yes, he knows that. What he's asking about is why are ads targeting things that he is THINKING of, in his mind. Not something that can be recorded.

Things you’ve spoken about and googled are likely to have been shared with advertising agencies. As far as things youve only thought about, its more likely pattern recognition. Like when you buy a new car and all of a sudden you start seeing that same model everywhere, it was already there but now you’re acknowledging it because it has significance to you. Its very common

I experience the exact same things. It's freaky, right? And it's a major red flag. Keep an eye out for stuff like this, stuff beyond advertisement.

Ermm, let's see. I'll try.

I frequently browse websites like Amazon and craigslist. It's very strange that whenever I do this, and then I go to another site, I'll get ads about nearly identical things. And this has been going on for months for me. I've also noticed that I will begin to think about things, or I will notice something for the first time, and then it will start showing up everywhere.

Concerning my prior warning, I have no doubt that we are constantly being monitored. Everything on the internet is somehow traceable, so it almost goes without saying that this will relate to things that are not shopping. Say, you recently looked at a tutorial on how to fix a skateboard. Suddenly, you see advertisements for skateboard parts, skate shops, etc.

It's blindly accepting things that is the worst. The reason the vast majority shrugs this otherwise terrifying thing off as nothing, is because its convenient, and that's all that matters.

It's very strange. I do not fancy the idea of being monitored for profit. It's only a gateway to much worse things.

Well in that case, it would imply that they heavily monitor you and can formulate predictions as to what you might think of next. Psychology has a huge part in marketing and advertising, so I could only assume that patterns are being formulated to best appeal to your interests.

I know exactly what you're saying. I've thought of stuff before and within days have ads about those things. It's creepy, and I suggest keeping an eye on it, maybe try to dig deeper into it. Do a little homework and see if it happens to others, try and figure out any patterns/things in common.

Best of luck to you, and I apologize for being unable to help you further.

They aren’t directly reading your mind.

But they are kind of reading your mind.

The power of pattern recognition in these ads services is mind-boggling, and the kinds of data they sweep for equally so. In very real ways, they know more about you than you know if yourself.

I mean, like what? What specific ads?

I’m willing to bet there is some possible chain of causality.

Are the ads for a product available in a store you’ve ever visited?

Have you ever googled that kind of service before? Or the condition or damage or what have you that the treatment could fix?

The computer and device being in physical proximity is enough for the ad service to make the connection that it likely owned by the same person or somebody else might want to take that trip with you.

As for mental issues, you should look up the story about Target knowing a girl was pregnant before she did. Something you googled ticked a check mark for other individuals experiencing those thoughts, even if the google search isn’t directly related to those kinds of thoughts. Simply collating music tastes or something can be enough.

They know everything, and if a computer is connected to a network in any way, identity sealed or not, the location tells all that needs knowing.

Really, in a way, the location services is the strongest part of these things.

It shouldn’t know this shit.

The computer understands your patterns better than you do for reasons that don’t register as patterns to our meat-processors. It’s fucked.

But don’t be paranoid. This happens to everybody. They don’t need to listen to your conversations (yet) to know everything there is to know.

Are you absolutely sure your VPN is strong and proxies secure? Never entered an address near your physical location into a pizza delivery website before or something? Logged into an account with that information present? There are lots of avenues.

I mean

Computers don’t forget things, really. Not anymore. I am not well-versed enough technically to know how exactly it would be possible... but I do know it is not likely your mind is being read in a literal sense. This is what you should meditatively recognize as a paranoid thought... and even if it is true... you can’t do much about it. It is not hurting you. So breath.

That’s what I do, anyway.

No problem.

The computers will have souls soon enough. It’s just that good at parsing data.

I know what you're talking about. I freaked out recently as I was googling for video game related discussions (specific game/company) and I had a super random invasive thought "I wonder if fortunetellers are just really good at guessing" that made me laugh out loud. I clicked a GameFAQs link immediately after that and the page gave me a nearly full-page Google Ad screen for "Local fortunetellers in your area" and it felt so random and out of place for a Google Ad (I have carefully customized my Ad Preferences).

j In 9

Huh?

Guess I pocket replied.

Spooky lol

It's confirmation bias, not some kind of mind control.

Most things you sign up for these days (even things you DONT sign up for, like Windows 10) ask you if you consent to "targeted advertising". They use cookies to track what you talk about and websites that you visit, and then tailor ads based on that information. And also share said information with other companies.

It isn't a conspiracy- it's you not paying attention to what you're consenting to.

Ailments that you've never searched for information about?

So then, in your opinion, internet companies are reading your thoughts?

No, this would be the first time I've heard about the Internet literally reading somebody's mind.

Only other explanation is that you have searched for things that are related to your specific ailment. Search companies like Google have insane amount of information and they are constantly studying that information and creating algorithms. With all the data they have its likely they can predict things about you based on what you search and say or buy without you saying exactly what it is based on the data they have gathered on billions of others. If that makes sense.

I think they have that capability. Think about the sheer amount of data they have. Each person they survey is another chance to further perfect their algorithms and better its accuracy. They probably have billions of people worth of unique data and they aren't just going to sit idly by with that data. They have some of the best minds in the world at their respective fields working for them and companies like Google have generally funded far reaching R and D projects. Its probably more powerful and sophisticated than most people understand by now with what it can predict or even change. I don't know if its as smooth as you put it but generally I think they have the capability to recognize that habits x,y, and z increase the likelihood of A to so and so percent. So they will take a chance and see if they connect with a targeted ad or suggestion.

Yes, its scary what they can do with the information they have especially since they are probably exploring every single angle thoroughly.

I’m 29 female, married with no kids and constantly have ads for IVF. I don’t think about ivf or google anything related to menstrual cycles, getting pregnant etc, we have decided not to have kids because we can’t afford it (yet) but they don’t know that.

There may be something missing from your profile that is more telling then what you google. You can target ads for things people don’t like or don’t have.... it might be a coincidence that you are actually thinking about this thing though. Or they’ve tapped your neurotransmitters.

I too get ads for penis enlargement. 😔

I can't stop laughing! Seriously. Giggling out loud and hoping I don't wake anyone up!

🙂

why dont you use an ad blocker?

https://adnauseam.io/ is dope as fuck.

it hides the ads from you, but it also sends fake clicks in the background. this does a few things.

a) wastes the advertisers money. showing ads doesnt cost a ton, but they pay A LOT for when people actually click the ads.

b) since you are "clicking" ALL the ads, it starts to screw with their demographic data of who you are. normally, they can guess your age, gender, and some interests based on history, but when you just click on everything, they dont know what to think. your basically both genders, all ages, interested in everything, and so on. its like if several people in a family or a bunch of roomates all shared the same computer.

now, it blocks most of the ads anyways, but its nice that the few that get through are just random shit.

wtf, why? fuck reddit.

You are telling the truth. I've experienced it too.

i experienced this. i have 9 fake teeth and i never talk about them or look into them, since im only 28. ive always wanted implants but never talked or searched.about them outside of talking to my dentist years ago. yet discount implants pop up for me all the time. like why are fake teeth of the exact type i need for my exact financial situation appearing. crazy.

So then wouldn't we say that they know you went to the dentist, that some how somwhete they now every precedure you have ever gotten, illness, medicine, school/job related stuff.

Like a bigger file on who you are, that interacts with the internet and builds more to your file.

So OP...would something have happened to you in your past, non internet related but maybe kept on file somewhere (school, dr, parents records, courts, ect)

That might in some small way correlate to why you would be having whatever thought.

Example...say someone's parents are divorced, or you don't speak to relatives...an expert might say you have a high chance for being depressed or maybe drinking ect.

they data companys werent kidding when they said they know you better than you know your self.

Ermm, let's see. I'll try.

I frequently browse websites like Amazon and craigslist. It's very strange that whenever I do this, and then I go to another site, I'll get ads about nearly identical things. And this has been going on for months for me. I've also noticed that I will begin to think about things, or I will notice something for the first time, and then it will start showing up everywhere.

Concerning my prior warning, I have no doubt that we are constantly being monitored. Everything on the internet is somehow traceable, so it almost goes without saying that this will relate to things that are not shopping. Say, you recently looked at a tutorial on how to fix a skateboard. Suddenly, you see advertisements for skateboard parts, skate shops, etc.

It's blindly accepting things that is the worst. The reason the vast majority shrugs this otherwise terrifying thing off as nothing, is because its convenient, and that's all that matters.

It's very strange. I do not fancy the idea of being monitored for profit. It's only a gateway to much worse things.