Chapter 1: Understanding Google's Surveillance

Have you ever noticed how Google AdSense ads seem to perfectly align with your interests? It’s as if the content is tailored to your age and preferences. You might struggle to recall what you had for breakfast yesterday, yet you can vividly remember searching for song lyrics just days ago.

You're not alone in feeling like you're being monitored. The vast network of internet activity operates as if it's watching your every move. Advertisers leverage data to encourage you to make another purchase, even if it’s something you don’t truly need.

Where is all this information stored? Surprisingly, it's not prominently displayed in your account settings. To find it, visit the following URL: adssettings.google.com.

At the top of the page, you’ll see a section for ad personalization. Here, you can toggle the setting from 'on' to 'off.'

What happens if you disable this feature? Not much changes at first. You'll still encounter advertisements, but they will gradually become less tailored to your specific needs, searches, and lifestyle. If you land on a site that utilizes Google AdSense, you will lose the ability to customize the ads you see. Even if you retain some customization options, your preferences won’t be remembered.

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© Annie Wegner 2022-Present.

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Chapter 2: The Reality of Online Tracking

An eye-opening video exploring how Google tracks your online behavior and the implications of such surveillance.

The first video titled "Is Google Spying on You?" delves into the extent of Google's tracking capabilities and what it means for users' privacy.

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The second video titled "Ok, Google. Are you spying on me?" addresses the privacy issues linked to Google Assistant and offers tips on managing your data.