When you browse a website or view a product on the Internet, you may start seeing ads or recommendations for similar products or services on your social media feeds due to a combination of cookies, tracking pixels, and other tracking technologies, as well as sophisticated advertising and recommendation algorithms used by social media platforms. Here’s how it generally works:
1. Cookies and Tracking Pixels
- Cookies are small pieces of data stored on your browser by websites you visit. They can store information about your preferences and browsing behaviour.
- Tracking Pixels are tiny, transparent images embedded in websites and emails. They can be used to collect data about user behaviour and interactions.
2. Third-Party Ad Networks
- Many websites have partnerships with third-party ad networks. These networks use cookies and tracking pixels to monitor your browsing behaviour across multiple websites and build a profile based on your interests and preferences.
3. Retargeting
- Retargeting is a specific type of online advertising where advertisers target users who have previously visited their website or interacted with their product but did not make a purchase or complete a desired action.
- Using the data gathered from cookies and tracking pixels, advertisers can display targeted ads to you when you visit other websites, including social media platforms.
4. Advertising and Recommendation Algorithms
- Social media platforms use sophisticated algorithms to determine what content and ads to show you.
- These algorithms consider your online behaviour, interactions, and preferences to display relevant and engaging content and ads.
- When you view a product or website, the social media platform’s algorithm may interpret it as a signal of your interest and start showing you related content and ads.
5. Data Brokers and Sharing
- Data brokers collect and sell information about consumers. Social media platforms and advertisers can buy this information to enhance their targeting capabilities.
- Some websites and apps may also share data directly with social media platforms through integrations and partnerships, facilitating more precise targeting.
6. Permissions and Settings
- The permissions and settings on your browser and social media accounts also play a role in what information is shared and how it is used for advertising purposes.
Privacy Measures and Opting Out
Many people find such targeted advertising invasive, and various privacy measures, legislation, and tools are available to help control the extent to which your online activity is tracked:
- Use Privacy-Focused Browsers that block trackers, like Firefox or Brave.
- Adjust Privacy Settings on your social media accounts and browsers to limit tracking.
- Use Ad Blockers to prevent ads and tracking pixels from loading.
- Clear Cookies Regularly to remove tracking data stored in your browser.
- Review and Manage App Permissions to control what data apps can access.
- Use VPNs to mask your IP address and online activity.
Do note that despite these measures, complete privacy is challenging to achieve due to the inherent nature of the Internet and online services.
Further Information
If you’d like to speak to us regarding our ability to design a quality website or perhaps how to maximise the potential of your existing website, please give us a call at 01883 372488 or contact us via Facebook and we’ll be happy to talk to you through your options.
