Invasive listening

- Have you ever had a conversation about something…and then all of a sudden seen an ad for that exact thing?…I don't mean a phone call.…I mean a face to face, in person conversation.…I can't tell you how many people…have asked me about this,…and yes, it happens.…It happened to me.…My brother and his family were over…for a barbecue and he and I were hanging out.…Ben was in the market for a new lawnmower…so we talked about lawnmowers.…The next day, lawnmower ads…started showing up on my computer and phone.…

I hadn't shopped for a lawnmower,…I hadn't searched for a lawnmower,…and no, Ben hadn't used my computer.…Now most platforms deny they listen,…but many tests have shown that apps,…like Facebook for example,…connect to your phone's microphone,…which means that someone could be listening.…And obviously, they are,…and I don't think it will end there.…Online marketing is an arms race.…If an advertiser can get their ad…in front of a user before everyone else,…they stand a better chance of getting the sale.…

There are billions of dollars to be made very quickly.…