I will preface by saying that yes I do sometimes struggle with paranoia.

That said, is it possible that facebook hears what you say? Not just reads what you type, but hears out loud conversations too? I keep talking about things verbally and then I get ads that match what I was talking about.

For example I just had a conversation about yahtzee (Christmas gift) and now there is an add for the game on my FB. I didn't Google it, or type it anywhere. Yet there it is.

If this was a one time thing I would chalk it up to coincidence, but it happens a lot. Things I said, not typed. Coincidence or can they (who ever they may be) listen to conversations? Not phone conversations, live ones.

I feel ridiculous asking this by the way. Is it just me?

[happysobercrafter]

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me. Turn the sound off on your computer and see if it stops.

Originally Posted by HappyCrafter

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me. Turn the sound off on your computer and see if it stops.

I only use my phone, but I carry it everywhere. I'm not concerned about anything malicious. I'm just really weirded out. Lol.

[Mountaindewed]

It has to do with the microphone on on your phone. Try turning it off. It can pick up on your conversations and send you ads. One time my coworker was ranting about a store and then I got Facebook ads for the store later that night. I had never looked been to that store, or looked it up. but it has to do with the microphone. Yeah, it’s pretty creepy but harmless.

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

It has to do with the microphone on on your phone. Try turning it off. It can pick up on your conversations and send you ads. One time my coworker was ranting about a store and then I got Facebook ads for the store later that night. I had never looked been to that store, or looked it up. but it has to do with the microphone.

Thank you! I thought I was losing what is left of my mind.

[amandalouise]

yes cell phones ...alexis and suri do "listen" and send out to other places sometimes even pm's and emails your conversations to your friends and email listing, not your imagination or paranoia. there was a big thing not too long ago in the news about it. you can contact your service provider, they will tell you how to deactivate your voice commands on your phone so that this doesnt keep happening.

[AceRimmer]

I just heard that they can give your private messages to third parties. That's creepy.

[roadartist]

That this can happen is freaky. I don't like it at all.

That's why I don't use any kind of social media on my phone. I don't trust big greedy corporations like Facebook or Google. That's why I also avoid Google products whenever possible. I use Firefox instead of Chrome, Startpage or DuckDuckGo instead of Google Search, and I have my smartphone heavily modded and rooted to block trackers, prevent apps from using my microphone all together (even if they request it under permissions), and I use a global ad blocker to block ads on all of my apps.

If I were to start using Facebook again (which is possible since you kinda need Facebook to keep in contact with people), I will use it only on my desktop PC that has a removable camera and microphone and log on only through a Firefox addon called "Stop Facebook Tracking" which isolates your Facebook identity into a separate "container".

Speaking of Firefox mods, I have several mods on Firefox that makes it extremely difficult or even borderline impossible for companies to track me and steal my information. I might write a guide on how to do this later even


Also, not using Facebook on my phone helps me another way: I have poor self control and self discipline, which makes me prone to using it a lot on the go when I need to be working or studying. This way, I keep myself from using it too much.