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Be Careful What You Click For

It may not be Black Friday yet, but the fact that it’s the holiday season; don’t you think it’s about time to start making that shopping list already?

What’s on your list?

Let’s see… Along with the plans to visit your parents across the state come this Thanksgiving, you just can’t get there empty handed. You have to prepare and buy them something. Perhaps, the easiest thing to complete this mission is to go online, check on some of those favorite knitting and craft ideas for your mother or some good old mattress your folks can enjoy. You may not probably be able to buy what you exactly are planning to get, you still have the next day and the day after. There’s just a lot of beauty when you go online. 

image source: topnews

The next day, you log in to another device and check on some new items on sale. Unknowingly, you noticed those few ads popping on the corners of the computer screen. And then you wonder how come this computer knows that you need to buy for your parents? Strange, isn’t it?

Back Track

Before you think of anything else, it is wise to understand how these ads came out in the open. “Tracking cookies” that’s what it’s called. You may think it’s impossible, think again. Believe it or not, these ads leave text files to your computer. Think about Hansel and Gretel leaving those pieces of bread on their way to the witch’s house. Well, for some strange reason, most people are afraid of what is going to happen next. Truth is, these “tracking cookies” NEVER identify you. (You may think they could, but not) Rather, they only identify the number of sites and the ads you click in that particular browser. In short, this machine that contains the ads, identifies your cookies, looks for your unique ID, and then records your online behavior. (Are you kidding me?)

image source: reputation.com

Say if you keep on spending most of your time at a personal injury law site, the next time you visit another web, you will most likely to see different settlement cases popping on the side of the screen. Or how about if you keep on visiting a site expert on crafts, you would not be surprised, the next time you would visit another site, you will most likely to see ads with regard to craft ideas.

It all means the same thing.

No matter how you call it – online behavioral, internet-based or other methods. Bottom line is, they all mean the same thing. Think about how these ads are molded by your online personality. What you do online reflect on the ads it provides.

So, why do you think these companies allow these ads to come out? There’s only one word to answer this question – MONEY. Who wouldn’t want it? In fact, this is what businesses are after. For instance, targeted ads are even worth twice as much as that of the non-targeted ones. Not to mention, relevant ads for the right people at their perfect time just work exquisite.

Lastly, you can laugh it all out.

It’s NOT at all time your computer can detect who you are. You may be a full time housewife, but it thinks you need a handful of makeup kits. So, does this mean you have to put your laptop or computer to the dumpster? The answer – NO! (Well, do you think you can live without it?) All you need is to remember what you click for otherwise, you will have to face the consequences offline or in the real world. In other words, your online behavior can affect your future.

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Edna Webb

I am Edna Webb and I love technology. I have always been fascinated by anything that has to do with computers, gadgets, and software. This led me to study Computer Science in college and eventually become a full-stack developer and editor at GforGadget.com. I love to write about technology and share my thoughts with others. I also enjoy photography, eating different delicacies, and following tech closely.

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