Facebook ads are messing with my head
I’ve had enough of Facebook. Here’s why:
It was cold night here in Adelaide, so, naturally, I went to go and put my ugg boots (slippers) on. As I did so, I told my boyfriend I was going AFK to get warmer.
2 minutes later, I opened up facebook, and what did I see an ad for? SLIPPERS! That’s right- Facebook advertising has gone as far as reading my mind / MSN conversations and determining that I am in fact in need of a pair of new slippers. What Facebook doesn’t know is that my ugg boots are far superior to any slippers that their target advertising can deliver. Of course Facebook can’t actually read my MSN conversations… or can they? I’m becoming somewhat skeptical.
So over the next few days, I kept track of the ads I was being served, taking note of any activities which may have lead to them being served:
Ok, so you know my IP address and can therefore determine that I probably live in Adelaide- congrats.
This is where it gets bad. This first appeared after joining a “Guitar Hero” group, but its appearance has become more frequent since my status and application updates have included something to do with it.
Now HOW do they know that my boyfriend snores?
Ok, so it’s a user agent string- nothing freaky about that. Or so I thought- until my mac needed to go in for repairs a week later. Is the AI behind this so intelligent that it can predict the future? No doubt it’s not far off. 
Little does Facebook know, I’m trying to fool their system to present myself with ads that have absolutely no relevance to me whatsoever so I can get on with my life. This isn’t that hard.
For example, according to Facebook, my birthday is on the 18th of October, 1911. Now I realise that this is why I’m getting ads to tell me that I can get FREE SAMPLES for women over 50! Wow! Old age is going to be sweet if this is what’s in store!
I know target advertising is nothing new (just look at how specific Google AdWords is), but when it’s targeted to my whole LIFE as opposed to a simple search term, I feel invaded.
Still, it’s my own fault. Or is it? When does information gathering cross the line? Personally I feel as though information that I used to consider to be public has become quite personal.