Sometimes you can really get confused: you're talking about a topic and shortly afterwards you see an advertisement about it on Facebook. Is the app listening?
Summary on the topic “Facebook is listening?”:
Users have the feeling that Facebook is eavesdropping on conversations and placing advertisements accordingly. Facebook denies this and describes it as a myth. A test by NDR did not produce 100% results.
It's strange: you're talking to a friend about, for example, online sausage delivery or a trip to Prague and a day later Facebook shows you a corresponding advertisement. Can this all be a coincidence? Is Facebook even listening?
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There is a statement from Facebook on this, but a test by NDR was also started on this question: Does Facebook listen?
Facebook itself says: NO! Facebook doesn't listen.
The platform operator is aware of the accusation and has already issued a statement on the topic. In its own newsroom, Facebook calls the accusation a myth ( see here ):
Facebook does not listen in and does not use the cell phone microphone to influence advertising in any way. The same applies to WhatsApp. Both apps only access the microphone if a user has expressly allowed the apps to do so beforehand and is actively using a function that requires audio signals, such as recording a video, voice message or during phone calls. There is also no exchange of conversation content between WhatsApp and Facebook for advertising purposes. This applies regardless of the existing encryption.
We comply now and in the future with applicable data protection laws in the EU and cooperate with European data protection authorities, in particular with our data protection authority in Ireland.
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NDR experiment
Facebook is listening? The NDR also asked itself the same question and started a test ( see here ). In summary, the following tests were carried out:
Test 1: All apps remained closed and conversations continued on predetermined topics. The smartphones were in the same room.
Result: The Android cell phone, whose microphone was not covered, showed advertisements relevant to the topics of the conversation.
Test 2: The apps were open and people were talking about predetermined topics. The smartphones were in the same room.
Result: An advertisement relevant to the topics of conversation appeared in the Instagram app of the iOS device.
Test 3: Phone calls were made using Facebook Messenger, and fixed terms and the travel destination Peru were repeatedly mentioned.
Result: Ads relevant to the topics of conversation appeared on the Android cell phone, and ads for flights to Peru appeared on the iOS cell phone. The interviewee saw a lot of advertising on Facebook and Instagram about the topics of the conversation.
At the same time, the NDR also allows computer science professor Federrath from the University of Hamburg to speak, who tends not to listen to Facebook. He sees the advertisements as more of an algorithm that evaluates several factors.
What you also shouldn't forget is selective perception! You always pay more attention to what is currently affecting you. An example: You bought a blue car. Shortly afterwards you see, from your own perception, an incredible number of blue cars driving around.
That can also apply here: you suddenly notice an advertisement because you yourself are affected. If there had been no conversation about it beforehand, the display might not have been noticed at all.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

