2013-12-23

Weddings, Septic tanks, Women and Franking machines

I know my FaceBook persona is slightly odd, and it thinks I am only 18 or something, but still - I have "real" friends and relatives and make posts, and "like" stuff... So you'd expect FaceBook to have some clue when it comes to targeting adverts at me.

But what a fun selection: Weddings, Septic Tanks, Women, and Franking machines.

You have to wonder what FaceBook thinks of me (not that it thinks, but you know what I mean).

The scary thing is that, more and more, it is profiles like this that steer the way computers make decisions, and sometimes computer made decisions affect us in real life - from adverts to credit scores.

P.S. WTF have fireworks got to do with weddings?
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13 comments:

  1. UnknownMonday, 23 December 2013 at 11:38:00 GMT

    I thought it was just me. Shaver plug adapter, womens' lingerie, body building and a job offer to become a mental health nurse for me. And my profile is, I'd say, standard for a 28 year old software developer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DragonMonday, 23 December 2013 at 11:41:00 GMT

    I tend to just use adblock these days due to the number of obnoxious ads on the internet with audio or pop overs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brexit factsMonday, 23 December 2013 at 15:42:00 GMT

      Me too, just bloody annoying when newspaper refresh in the background and suddenly starts to play video ad with sounds, especially with the PC not off at night. The other half just loves Shell new energy mix at 2:30am

      Delete
  3. cscashbyMonday, 23 December 2013 at 11:45:00 GMT

    Thank goodness you haven't monetised this blog. Who knows what ads your readership would then have been subjected to!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RevKMonday, 23 December 2013 at 11:47:00 GMT

      The ads on this blog are funny - and I get around £10/month from it (even though over a million page hits a month now).

      Delete
    2. AmicusMonday, 23 December 2013 at 16:55:00 GMT

      'spect most of that million are using adblocking stuff

      Delete
  4. NABMonday, 23 December 2013 at 12:56:00 GMT

    http://www.fbpurity.com/ is your friend. Well, it's my friend anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1Monday, 23 December 2013 at 16:50:00 GMT

      Wow.. that website is packed with spammy adverts for stuff very incorrectly targeted at me :>

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMonday, 23 December 2013 at 17:22:00 GMT

      Then ABP and Ghostery get rid of those......!

      Delete
  5. SimonFMonday, 23 December 2013 at 14:17:00 GMT

    Weddinqs and Fireworks - Dance just a 'bit' too long with the bride's sister and find out for yourself

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1Monday, 23 December 2013 at 16:48:00 GMT

    I often get Virginia or San Francisco, USA adverts on my facebook. I have lots of family in the USA and I guess it incorrectly attributes me as being in the USA. That is - when I forget to use adblock plus. Most of the time I never see any advert.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alan CliffordMonday, 23 December 2013 at 22:37:00 GMT

    There was an interesting theme to my recommended pages last month: https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q71/1450346_10202549929212211_219790996_n.jpg

    ReplyDelete

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