When Adverts Know Everything: A Case Study of Online Ad Tracking in a College Student
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31571/bahasa.v12i2.10070Abstract
In this digital age, the presence of personalized online advertisements has sparked widespread concern over privacy and data security. This article presents a case study involving a college student who noticed that advertisements on their smartphone seemed to reflect topics they had recently discussed in personal conversations. To explore this phenomenon, I conducted qualitative research using interviews with several individuals who shared similar experiences. The aim was to understand their perceptions, feelings, and knowledge about how online ad tracking works. The findings reveal that while many participants suspect that their smartphones are “listening” to their conversations, current research and expert opinions suggest that targeted advertisements are primarily driven by algorithms analyzing behavioral data, search history, browsing patterns, app usage, and even location tracking. This study not only uncovers how such ads are delivered but also highlights the psychological discomfort and feelings of surveillance experienced by users. Ethical concerns regarding data collection, consent, and the manipulation of consumer behavior through targeted advertising are also addressed. The results emphasize the urgent need for digital literacy and transparency from technology companies, allowing individuals to make informed choices about their privacy. By understanding the real mechanisms behind ad tracking, people can take practical steps to protect their personal information in an increasingly connected digital environment
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References
Chu, J. (2023). The Effects of Personalized Advertisements on Consumer Decision-Making Behavior. International Journal of High School Research, 5(3), 54–59. https://doi.org/10.36838/v5i3.11
Hannabuss, S. (2010). Understanding Privacy. Library Review, 59(7), 562–563. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531011065163
Krisdianto, O., Fauzi, A., & Irawan, A. (2019). Pengaruh Online Behavioral Adverstising (OBA) Terhadap Sikap dan Dampaknya pada Minat Beli. In Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis (Vol. 73, Issue 1).
Lee, K., & Attablayo, P. (2023). Examining the impacts of privacy awareness on user’s self-disclosure on social media. ArXiv Preprint ArXiv:2303.07927., 1–14.
Osmani, N. (2016). Privacy and data protection: Legal aspects in the Republic of Macedonia. Academicus International Scientific Journal, 14, 59–68. https://doi.org/10.7336/academicus.2016.14.04
Prince, C., Omrani, N., & Schiavone, F. (2023). Online privacy literacy and users’ information privacy empowerment: the case of GDPR in Europe. Information Technology and People, 37(8), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-05-2023-0467
Song, B., Deng, M., Pokhrel, S. R., Lan, Q., Doss, R., & Li, G. (2023). Digital Privacy Under Attack: Challenges and Enablers. http://arxiv.org/abs/2302.09258
Chu, J. (2023). The Effects of Personalized Advertisements on Consumer Decision-Making Behavior. International Journal of High School Research, 5(3), 54–59. https://doi.org/10.36838/v5i3.11
Hannabuss, S. (2010). Understanding Privacy. Library Review, 59(7), 562–563. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531011065163
Krisdianto, O., Fauzi, A., & Irawan, A. (2019). Pengaruh Online Behavioral Adverstising (OBA) Terhadap Sikap dan Dampaknya pada Minat Beli. In Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis (Vol. 73, Issue 1).
Lee, K., & Attablayo, P. (2023). Examining the impacts of privacy awareness on user’s self-disclosure on social media. ArXiv Preprint ArXiv:2303.07927., 1–14.
Osmani, N. (2016). Privacy and data protection: Legal aspects in the Republic of Macedonia. Academicus International Scientific Journal, 14, 59–68. https://doi.org/10.7336/academicus.2016.14.04
Prince, C., Omrani, N., & Schiavone, F. (2023). Online privacy literacy and users’ information privacy empowerment: the case of GDPR in Europe. Information Technology and People, 37(8), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-05-2023-0467
Song, B., Deng, M., Pokhrel, S. R., Lan, Q., Doss, R., & Li, G. (2023). Digital Privacy Under Attack: Challenges and Enablers. http://arxiv.org/abs/2302.09258
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