RobR Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 I love classical ballet (no surprise there) and as the owner of a Parson Russell terrier, dogs too. Like many of you, I go to Instagram to find (ballet) news and photos. I follow various dancers and other posters; @dancersdiary, @missbunnyman and @embracethe ballet, and others All straightforward so far but, what I don’t get is why my Instagram stream has so many advertisements and links to women’s clothing, fashion, swimsuits, make up, …. Do the cookies assume that because of my interest in ballet that I’m probably a woman? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkgal Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Probably! It’s the sort of thing I worry about with AI! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 5 minutes ago, Suffolkgal said: Probably! It’s the sort of thing I worry about with AI! Actually I find it reassuring that AI, in what is probably its most straightforward and profitable application (targeted advertising), is so bad at figuring me out! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobR Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 1 minute ago, Lizbie1 said: Actually I find it reassuring that AI, in what is probably its most straightforward and profitable application (targeted advertising), is so bad at figuring me out! Well, if you start getting ads for shaving gear, beard trimmers and Y fronts, you’ll have to let me know 🤪 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_enthusiast Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 28 minutes ago, RobR said: Do the cookies assume that because of my interest in ballet that I’m probably a woman? Looks like it, unless someone else is using your account as well. That's quite sexist! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 You can't do much about the ads but you can turn off 'recommended' posts though only for 30 days at a time...also making use of the options after pressing the '...' button at the top right of each post means you can tailor what you get fed. You can also try drowning out irrelevant stuff by liking pictures of a few distinct interests 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trog Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Have you tried the Brave web browser? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Perregrino Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 4 hours ago, RobR said: Do the cookies assume that because of my interest in ballet that I’m probably a woman? Or perhaps a man who likes to wear women’s clothes and makeup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paco Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 I don't have this issue with Instagram, but I clean my PC from cookies twice a day (using a cleaning software) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobR Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 19 minutes ago, PeterS said: Or perhaps a man who likes to wear women’s clothes and makeup? Thanks for this, Peter. I’m rarely lost for words but this is one such occasion. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Firstly, it's algorithms not cookies... To find out how it works, Everything You Need to Know About Social Media Algorithms | Sprout Social 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 11 hours ago, Paco said: I don't have this issue with Instagram, but I clean my PC from cookies twice a day (using a cleaning software) Does that work though? I have to use an old toothbrush for getting the crumbs out of the keyboard.... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 15 hours ago, RobR said: Do the cookies assume that because of my interest in ballet that I’m probably a woman? Depends if you are spending time engaging with those ads. The more you engage/interact, the more you will see those sorts of ads - or even content. I engage with lots of cute dog videos, so my instagram feed is interspersed with more of those. I clearly have an interest in gluten free food content so I get targeted with this sort of information. On top of that, my registration data gives away my age and location. Plus meta (facebook and instagram) can also track you offsite (at the moment cookies), unless you have set specific conditions, so if someone else is using your device, you may be targeted based on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 I seem to get targeted with 'hot Eastern European/Asian girls' ads. Considering that, like Blossom, I mostly watch cute dog or owl videos on Instagram, I am not sure why I get targeted. They mostly arrive in my email junk folder and I never open them, but I am getting a bit sick of receiving them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Don't start me on my Junk folder - it's currently overrun with adverts for walk-in baths, pillows, timeshare relief, canvas prints and all sorts of other garbage. And that's not counting the obvious phishing ones (I reported a batch of over 40 the other day). The filters clearly aren't working, and M$/Outlook obviously couldn't care less. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Perregrino Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 1 hour ago, Sim said: I seem to get targeted with 'hot Eastern European/Asian girls' ads. Considering that, like Blossom, I mostly watch cute dog or owl videos on Instagram, I am not sure why I get targeted. They mostly arrive in my email junk folder and I never open them, but I am getting a bit sick of receiving them. I get offered Ukrainian girls several times a day. is this connected to my having bought tickets to the Dance for Ukraine galas....? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobR Posted February 13 Author Share Posted February 13 2 hours ago, PeterS said: I get offered Ukrainian girls several times a day. is this connected to my having bought tickets to the Dance for Ukraine galas....? Good explanation - stick with it 👍😉 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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