Kidney cancer and social media- you're being watched

hope_123
hope_123 Member Posts: 22 Member
edited January 2021 in Kidney Cancer #1

Hello, I want to know if anyone else had experienced this? I haven't posted anything on Facebook about my upcoming surgery for my under 2cm renal mass...  but Facebook algorithms are suggesting cancer information to me nonstop. There should be consumer protection laws for this kind of stuff. I've only searched Google on kidney cancer and somehow it synched over to Facebook. I really think these companies are unethical and are damaging to people. Today, I got more than 50 ads about cancer, cancer treaments, metastatic disease photos, personal injury lawyers willing to sue for wrongful termination due to cancer... It isn't right and who knows where else this info goes. I'll delete my FB account soon.... and I didn't even post any information about my health and potential cancer on FB for this to happen. Warning you are being watched by these companies.

What have you done to protect your privacy?

Comments

  • AliceB1950
    AliceB1950 Member Posts: 237 Member
    edited January 2021 #2
    Don't take it personally, I

    Don't take it personally, I had a ton of those ads show up today, too. Other days, it's ads for different topics - you just don't notice those because it's not something in the front of your mind. It'll be different ads tomorrow.

  • hope_123
    hope_123 Member Posts: 22 Member
    edited January 2021 #3
    AliceB1950 said:

    Don't take it personally, I

    Don't take it personally, I had a ton of those ads show up today, too. Other days, it's ads for different topics - you just don't notice those because it's not something in the front of your mind. It'll be different ads tomorrow.

    Thanks! I just still think it

    Thanks! I just still think it's not right that those companies do ad targeting and tracking like this. Makes me think I should use VPN or private browser.

  • Biner
    Biner Member Posts: 136 Member
    #4
    becouse you discovered

    becouse you discovered information about kidney cancer,all media gogle facebook and etc use it to advertize you something you need

    dont worry it happen with everyone

  • hope_123
    hope_123 Member Posts: 22 Member
    edited January 2021 #5
    Biner said:

    becouse you discovered

    becouse you discovered information about kidney cancer,all media gogle facebook and etc use it to advertize you something you need

    dont worry it happen with everyone

    Yes but then can future

    Yes but then can future employers discover your suspect health conditions too and deny you a job? There needs to be privacy legislation about this.

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,042 Member
    edited January 2021 #6
    Freedom of Speech

    That is almost an oxymoron comment in this day and age.  Google, Facebook, You-tube, and the other big tech companies have pretty much excluded the little guy search engines.  I realized that several years ago.  I'm a trustee for out companies pension plan, went to the site of the investment company who held it to register a newly qualified employee, and started receiving pop-up and direct email about investing.  They track what you search for and then bombard you with other advertising.

    RE your cancer.  Sorry to hear about it.  I'm like iceman; it's going on 15 years since original Dx.  Hang in there.

    donna_lee

  • Biner
    Biner Member Posts: 136 Member
    edited January 2021 #7
    hope_123 said:

    Yes but then can future

    Yes but then can future employers discover your suspect health conditions too and deny you a job? There needs to be privacy legislation about this.

    its discrimination

    if you live in US deny job because cancer discrimination 

  • a_oaklee
    a_oaklee Member Posts: 566 Member
    edited February 2021 #8
    Privacy

    Hope ....I sympathize with you.  I am a very private person.  The past couple of years, as technology has invaded our homes, I have taken on learning as much as I can.  The more I delve into it, the more interesting it gets.   I do have a relative who has a job in cybersecurity, and his stories and advice just astonish me.  I am not paranoid, I just think my life is my own, and I get to decide who i share with.  I read everything.  Most people dont read the consents you give to apps.  They want access to everything on your phone.  Consequently I dont have many apps installed.   Google does not hide the fact that it monitors everything you do, stores it and shares it with affiliates.  You can go into google settings and change alot of what they have access to, and who they share with.   You can also control history and delete that.  There are browsers that dont share or store your information.  Duck duck go and Firefox are popular.  I use Firefox.  

    Here is another strange, but true thing that I tested.  I read that your phone listens to you.  I thought that sounded like something crazy.  My son and I purposely talked in person about buying a Mustang GT500.  Neither of us ever googled anything.  The next day we both had pop up adds all related to Ford, Mustangs, buying used vehicles, dealerships.

    My security employed relative called me about my doggy cam I bought for fun.  I can be watched easily in my own home.  I only plug it in when i leave.  

    Anyway, I do sympathize with you.  Go to your google settings and change them.  Perhaps your facebook settings too.  Use a different browser for personal searches.

    I also have location turned off on my phone.  I think its creepy that I get pop-ups or texts and emails about my recent visit to Lowes etc.  

    Maybe some people like all this spying on us, or think its harmless.  I think its just creepy and an invasion of privacy.

    I do not think you can legally have your job jeopardized because of a diagnosis in the US.  

    Best wishes to you.

  • hope_123
    hope_123 Member Posts: 22 Member
    #9
    a_oaklee said:

    Privacy

    Hope ....I sympathize with you.  I am a very private person.  The past couple of years, as technology has invaded our homes, I have taken on learning as much as I can.  The more I delve into it, the more interesting it gets.   I do have a relative who has a job in cybersecurity, and his stories and advice just astonish me.  I am not paranoid, I just think my life is my own, and I get to decide who i share with.  I read everything.  Most people dont read the consents you give to apps.  They want access to everything on your phone.  Consequently I dont have many apps installed.   Google does not hide the fact that it monitors everything you do, stores it and shares it with affiliates.  You can go into google settings and change alot of what they have access to, and who they share with.   You can also control history and delete that.  There are browsers that dont share or store your information.  Duck duck go and Firefox are popular.  I use Firefox.  

    Here is another strange, but true thing that I tested.  I read that your phone listens to you.  I thought that sounded like something crazy.  My son and I purposely talked in person about buying a Mustang GT500.  Neither of us ever googled anything.  The next day we both had pop up adds all related to Ford, Mustangs, buying used vehicles, dealerships.

    My security employed relative called me about my doggy cam I bought for fun.  I can be watched easily in my own home.  I only plug it in when i leave.  

    Anyway, I do sympathize with you.  Go to your google settings and change them.  Perhaps your facebook settings too.  Use a different browser for personal searches.

    I also have location turned off on my phone.  I think its creepy that I get pop-ups or texts and emails about my recent visit to Lowes etc.  

    Maybe some people like all this spying on us, or think its harmless.  I think its just creepy and an invasion of privacy.

    I do not think you can legally have your job jeopardized because of a diagnosis in the US.  

    Best wishes to you.

    Thank you, funny thing a

    Thank you, funny thing a friend of mine just had a chat about someone else who has lupus and survived and Covid-19, then soon after a drug advertisement for a lupus drug was sent to me online! Lol! This stuff is out of control!

     

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