IT is common knowledge that reams of personal data is collected and stored every time someone log in to an app or surfs a website.
But how ‘creepily’ intrusive it is, and what Google actually knows about its users, all lies in a web users ad personalisation settings.
Anyone at anytime can check what Google knows about them and update that information
These settings are what is used to create targeted advertisements.
Almost every web user has had an experience of seeing ads on a web page for the exact product, be it a tent or style of shoe, that they have been looking for.
Don’t worry, though, Google isn’t listening to you.
But it is paying very close attention to everything its users do online, so it can better understand them and productive them with adverts they will (hopefully) deem clickable.
While these data points don’t say much about anyone on their own, they can quickly weave an intricate tapestry of who someone is, what they like, and what kind of person they are.
Fortunately, Google makes the data it has on users, accessible to them individually.
So, anyone at anytime can check what Google knows about them and update that information.
To do so, head to adssettings.google.com on your desktop web browser or phone.
If you have ‘Personalised Ads’ switched to on, the page should show you a list of everything Google uses to show ads to you.
If it’s switched off, it will give you the option to turn it on as well as share a bit of information on the kind of data that is gathered about users.
For TikTok user @yorgoandlea, Google was able to tell her age, gender, the languages she speaks and even her interests.
The search engine can also keep tabs on your relationship status, job, and whether you have children.
“Have y’all ever gone through your Google ads personalisation list???,” one web user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“It’s CREEPY how much detail is in there down to your parental status, TV genres and stores you shop at.”
Another tweeted: “Looking at my Google ad personalisation and it says household income: lower middle.
“Like yes, it’s right, but how do they KNOW.”
If any of that information is wrong, and you’re a fan of targeted ads, you can correct it.
“So fed up of Google’s s****y ad personalisation, it’s never actually tailored to my real life interests/preferences,” another user complained on X.
“Apparently Google thinks I will want to see ads on baby diapers, smoking cessation, road cycling and dating sims??”
But if you’re not a fan of nosy tech companies, you can turn off the ad personalisation toggle.
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