It seems oddly serendipitous when, after a conversation, online ads begin recommending brands of products you may have discussed. Is it a coincidence, or is your phone secretly listening to you? Facebook has repeatedly stated that its app does not listen to users for ad-targeting, though some sources report that many apps have permission to activate our microphones and the ability to analyse snippets of audio. In the grand scheme of things, however, listening in on our conversations for targeted ads isn’t the most effective method to get relevant information – especially when you consider the wealth of information our digital footprints can provide, such as what we view, like or share on social media, or the cookies gained from our Google search history. It’s far more likely that your previous online activities, a tweet or Facebook post has sparked an ad.
