What reasons are there for being concerned about companies like google and meta etc collecting data and tracking me? - eviltoast

Please understandnim asking this question from a genuine place. I dont want the quora answer, i want the tech savvy, security expert minds of my fellow lemmings. If thats ok?

What happens to this data? What can/do they do with it? and why are so many people concerned about google tracking them?

Do i as an average user need to be concerned?

If so, What sorts of things can i do to avoid being tracked? Preferably without too much comprimise.

  • guacupado@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I found that it was used in an attempt to target me based on human frailties.

    This doesn’t even make sense. It’d be much more lucrative to target multiple things you speak fondly about it or have expressed personal interest in by actively searching.

    • Yurgenst@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      If you enjoy something you buy it occasionally. If you are addicted you buy it every day, every time you have money, you think about it all the time. That’s way more lucrative, it’s the whole business model of the tobacco industry too.

      • OneWomanCreamTeam@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        That definitely doesn’t describe how I act with nicotine, and I’m ABSOLUTELY addicted to nicotine.

        I could say the same for alcohol, but I’m a very mild alcoholic.

    • bogdugg@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Things we need are higher on our priorities than things we want, and addiction convinces you that you need that thing. So anything that can monetize that addiction is going to be more effective and consistent than something you merely want.