Is Amazon reading my text?!

[Vintage VFer]

Originally Posted by MsThistlebottom

Had to share. Enjoy!
Beware the Dangers of a "Smart Home"

LOL! I have an ad blocker on my browser and that site wouldn't let me read the article until I turned it off. I didn't bother.

[Scorpio6]

I guess my attitude is too "in your face" to be phased by this tracking game. I just figure, I'm the boss of my life and my money, they can track me all they want, I only buy what I need and that can be unpredictable from one day to the next. If they want to track me, go ahead, it's not going to do you any good. So there.

[AsSweetAsSugar]

Originally Posted by MsThistlebottom

Had to share. Enjoy!

Beware the Dangers of a "Smart Home"

LOL... So funny! Thanks for sharing!

[Izzy]

There is an article out today about a couple who installed one of those Ring cameras in order to watch their puppy while they are at work. The camera is in their room where the dog crate is. Someone hacked into their camera and while woman was in bed she heard coughing and then someone made a comment about seeing her in bed. That is seriously creepy. Eyes are everywhere.

[kittybug]

Originally Posted by Izzy

There is an article out today about a couple who installed one of those Ring cameras in order to watch their puppy while they are at work. The camera is in their room where the dog crate is. Someone hacked into their camera and while woman was in bed she heard coughing and then someone made a comment about seeing her in bed. That is seriously creepy. Eyes are everywhere.

I saw something like this on local news last night, some hacker got into a camera used in a child's room. Scared the heck out of the kid when the camera started talking to her.

[Taiga]

Originally Posted by Scorpio6

I guess my attitude is too "in your face" to be phased by this tracking game. I just figure, I'm the boss of my life and my money, they can track me all they want, I only buy what I need and that can be unpredictable from one day to the next. If they want to track me, go ahead, it's not going to do you any good. So there.

Well, the fact that you are on VF already makes it highly unlikely that you only buy what you "need" Lol Though I guess defining "need" could change that interpretation. I do think advertising is far more insidious. In the moment, it's easy to be defiant if you know you are a mark. But I think places like Amazon are very adept at showing you things (related to prior purchases) that you would never have thought to search out except for the fact that they create interest. I bet most of us would not buy half the crap we do (even if it is good stuff) except for the fact that it pops up and looks intriguing. We are very subtly enticed. How many people browse and come away with something they did not initially search out? And now we don't even have to get up and drive some place to be enticed. Consumer spending has changed dramatically with predatory marketing and online shopping. Most homes are stuffed to the max with handy items we don't really need---in the closets, under the bed, garages, storage units etc. I personally think quality of life was better when we were not so barraged and perhaps less able to access so many shiny things. You have to work really hard not to be entangled and even those of us who are trying have to constantly question the balance.

Sometimes I think the only way to win is not to play. I bet if people were forced offline for a year, it would be an eye-opener with regards to changes in total spending. Not just for shopping but also for how we reconnect to our lives more when we don't have online diversions.

[kittybug]

Originally Posted by Taiga

Well, the fact that you are on VF already makes it highly unlikely that you only buy what you "need" Lol Though I guess defining "need" could change that interpretation. I do think advertising is far more insidious. In the moment, it's easy to be defiant if you know you are a mark. But I think places like Amazon are very adept at showing you things (related to prior purchases) that you would never have thought to search out except for the fact that they create interest. I bet most of us would not buy half the crap we do (even if it is good stuff) except for the fact that it pops up and looks intriguing. We are very subtly enticed. How many people browse and come away with something they did not initially search out? And now we don't even have to get up and drive some place to be enticed. Consumer spending has changed dramatically with predatory marketing and online shopping. Most homes are stuffed to the max with handy items we don't really need---in the closets, under the bed, garages, storage units etc. I personally think quality of life was better when we were not so barraged and perhaps less able to access so many shiny things. You have to work really hard not to be entangled and even those of us who are trying have to constantly question the balance.

Sometimes I think the only way to win is not to play. I bet if people were forced offline for a year, it would be an eye-opener with regards to changes in total spending. Not just for shopping but also for how we reconnect to our lives more when we don't have online diversions.

Well said! Totally agree, unfortunately!

[MARIKA]

That's why I deleted FB from my phone. After watching that Netflix show and seeing how they track you and profile your life was CRAZY. The day I deleted it I went to my library and got a new card. I used to love the library but when the internet came along it was all consuming.

[kittybug]

Originally Posted by MARIKA

That's why I deleted FB from my phone. After watching that Netflix show and seeing how they track you and profile your life was CRAZY. The day I deleted it I went to my library and got a new card. I used to love the library but when the internet came along it was all consuming.

I am under the impression you are tracked whether on FB or not (I'm not on FB either). I agree that documentary was a bit horrifying...the sheer manipulation going on is mind boggling!

[MARIKA]

kittybug, when I deleted the App on my phone when I got on my laptop it automatically new I deleted it and started showing me all these notifications and posts from friends. When I had my app it never did that.