The Internet has changed our lives in many ways. However, one of the most notable phenomena is the ability of websites and online services to deliver personalized advertising based on our search and browsing behavior. You may have noticed that when you search for a product on one website, you suddenly see advertisements for that product on other websites. This is not a coincidence, but the result of “targeted advertising”.

How does targeted advertising work?


Collecting information about your online behavior is the basis for targeted advertising. For example, if you use a search engine such as Google to search for a specific product, this information is stored and shared with advertisers. These advertisers may then serve ads for this or similar products on other websites that you visit. This is an effective way for companies to promote their products and one of the reasons why so many online services are free.

How do you maintain control over targeted advertising?


Targeted advertising is useful for many people because it alerts them to products and services that are relevant to them. However, some people want to avoid these advertisements for various reasons. If you do not want your online activities to be tracked and used in this way, there are several ways to control this.

Delete and block cookies


To delete or block cookies, you can change your browser settings. Please note, however, that this may result in some websites no longer functioning properly.

Using incognito or private mode


Most web browsers offer an “Incognito” or “Private” mode. This mode prevents cookies and other tracking technologies from tracking your online activities.

Change online advertising settings


Many online advertising platforms offer settings that allow you to control how your data is used for advertising purposes. For example, Google offers an option to deactivate personalized advertising.

Using a VPN or Tor


A Virtual Private Network (VPN) or The Onion Router (Tor) can anonymize your online activity and make it harder for advertisers to track you.

In addition to these general strategies, there are also specific tools and settings you can use on specific platforms and services.

Customize your settings on individual platforms


It is also possible to adjust personalized advertising settings for each network individually. Here are some of the major networks and how you can control the advertising you see on these platforms:

Facebook

Facebook allows you to control the ads you see fairly easily. You can access Settings by opening Facebook, going to Settings, and then selecting “Ads.” From there, you can view and customize a variety of information related to your ad content, including your interests, what advertisers can see about you, and your ad preferences. For example, you can turn off Ads based on your usage of websites and apps to prevent Facebook from seeing what you search for and shop for and to stop showing ads for products you recently searched for . ( link )

Google

Google, the largest advertising company in the world, offers you the ability to adjust your personalized ad settings in your Google Account. You can access your ad settings by going to your ad settings page. There you can opt out of personalized ads by unchecking this option at the top of the page.

Twitter

Twitter's ad settings are much easier to understand, but a little harder to find. They're hidden in the Personalization menu, which you can only find on the web. To find it, click your profile picture, select “Settings and privacy,” then “Privacy and security.” From there you will find the “Data sharing and personalization” option and can set the options as you like. ( link )

Instagram

Unlike the other networks listed here, Instagram does not have dedicated ad settings. Instead, you must interact with ads on a per-ad basis. When you see a sponsored ad in your Instagram feed, you can tap the three dots in the top corner to view the ad settings. From there you can hide or block the ad.

Remember: Ads are necessary


Finally, it is important to emphasize that none of these options will completely remove the ads. Advertising is a necessary source of income for many websites and online services, without which many of these services could not exist. However, if you are bothered by targeted ads, you can simply turn them off instead of blocking them completely. This allows the websites and networks you like to continue making money without you having to feel like someone is looking over your shoulder.

By following these tips and strategies, you can take back control of the type of online advertising you see while supporting the websites and services you use.

Summary of maintaining control over personalized online advertising


If you do not want your online activity to be tracked and used in this way, there are several ways to control this:

  • Delete and block cookies: You can change your browser settings to delete or block cookies. However, please note that this may cause some websites to not function properly.
  • Use of Incognito or Private Mode: Most modern web browsers offer an “Incognito” or “Private” mode that prevents cookies and other tracking technologies from tracking your online activities.
  • Change online advertising settings: Many online advertising platforms offer settings that allow you to control how your data is used for advertising purposes. For example, Google offers an option to opt out of personalized advertising.
  • Using a VPN or Tor: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) or The Onion Router (Tor) can anonymize your online activity and make it harder for advertisers to track you.

By using these strategies, you can gain some control over the way your data is used for online advertising. Keep in mind that this is not a perfect solution and you will probably still see some personalized advertising. But it can help reduce the amount and specificity of personalized advertising you see.


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