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Post by coachdoc on Sept 25, 2021 9:27:44 GMT -5
It has been helpful for advertising gigs or occasionally guitar/music stuff. I use it for that but little else. Question - Facebook is littered with tempting posts that try to elicit an answer like showing a manual steering wheel shift lever and asking “who ever used one of these” or stuff like “only a genius can find the hidden squirrel “ Those have to be some tracking or profiling tool don’t they? I still use the FB for announcing gigs. It is about the only reason I go on now. |
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Post by t-bob on Sept 25, 2021 10:59:26 GMT -5
Another technology article The Washington Times by Geoffrey A. Fowler 9/25/21
Too often, instead of us using technology, technology uses us.
As The Post’s tech columnist, I’ve worked for years to put readers like you back in control of your data and devices through investigations and consumer advocacy. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the Help Desk, a whole new team of Washington Post journalists who will provide trusted advice about personal tech.
Our tech team is unique because we’re focused on your life and your work, not what companies want you to buy. At the Help Desk, we answer the important questions: How does tech impact your privacy, your security, your family, your health, the environment and — yes — even democracy? We offer how-tos, step-by-step guides, deep dives on your data and truly independent reviews. We hold Big Tech accountable where it matters most: the products you use every day.
I wanted to be the first to introduce you to the rest of the Help Desk team.
Heather Kelly
Heather is a veteran journalist who covers the intersection of humans and gadgets, and offers humorous advice on our digital lives. Her guide to the terrible default privacy settings you need to change right now may be the most useful tech article in years.
Chris Velazco
Chris is the guy you’d want to take shopping with you for deep knowledge about what’s new, what’s a rip-off, and what’s actually right for you and your family. Check out what he says you should do if you might have been affected by a data breach.
Tatum Hunter
Tatum goes deep into how apps, websites and other technology actually work to help you get the most out of them. Don’t miss our piece on how iPhone apps still snoop on you, even after you tap “Ask app not to track.”
Danielle Abril
Danielle covers how technology is affecting the way we work and how companies are using artificial intelligence and other tools to exert more control over us. Check out her recent dive into Facebook’s virtual reality workplace: She got nauseous, so you don’t have to.
You play a part, too. We want to hear directly from you about your technology questions, big or small. You can help expand our journalism by telling us about the technology that’s failing you, or that you think warrants some classic Washington Post investigation. Email us at yourhelpdesk@washpost.com.
It’s time for your smartphones, apps, and social networks to work for you. And we’re here to help.
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Post by drlj on Sept 25, 2021 11:28:28 GMT -5
Delete your account and life will go on without FB.
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Sept 25, 2021 11:47:23 GMT -5
Delete your account and life will go on without FB. If I did that, I wouldn’t hear about the one secret trick doctors don’t want you to know about. Mike |
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Post by drlj on Sept 25, 2021 11:55:35 GMT -5
Delete your account and life will go on without FB. If I did that, I wouldn’t hear about the one secret trick doctors don’t want you to know about. Mike That’s true. You also wouldn’t get to do the 1950s TV quiz that only people with an IQ of 130 know the answers to. |
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Post by jdd2 on Sept 25, 2021 18:35:17 GMT -5
The just-delete-your-FB-account thing is only a half measure. Tracking pixels (beacons) in images (= ads) follow track your activity all over, can even be in images in an email.
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Post by epaul on Sept 25, 2021 20:39:43 GMT -5
I have found some targeted ads to be useful. It's how I met my wife. And it's how I found that handy gizmo that turns my garden hose into a power sprayer for only $29.99. Two things that have made my life much easier! Target away.
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Post by james on Sept 26, 2021 15:02:49 GMT -5
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Sept 26, 2021 16:48:22 GMT -5
Woah James. Disturbing.
Mike
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Post by jdd2 on Sept 26, 2021 20:02:08 GMT -5
FB sells the ads, which then appear all over the web, without regard to whether you do/don't have a FB account.
Ads which include tracking pixels. Just by loading a web page, which includes FB/google ads, those pixels phone home to convey things like what web page they were loaded on, the computer and browser specs that accessed the page, IP address, probably the URLs of the last x-number of pages that you browsed, what you click onwards to, and so on.
You would only need to correlate a little bit of what is in james' link (if at all, and which of course includes those tech details) before you could build equivalent (or better) characterizations of "users".
Isn't it nice how your phone guesses what you're going to type next? It's that same thing on steroids (or meth), the bits of data collected by tracking pixels are an excellent basis for a 'guess' for all sorts of details about who you are. (shopper, voter, etc.)
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Post by RickW on Sept 28, 2021 8:51:02 GMT -5
If you are using an Apple phone, not that long ago they put in the ability to prevent apps from sharing data.If you are using an iphone or ipad and didn’t turn this on, you really should…that is, if you actually care.
For many small businesses and artists, Facebook s a godsend. Facebook advertising is one of the backbones of independent writers. It definitely seems to have deteriorated since apple put their changes in, at least, that’s the anecdotal evidencce.
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