“What would it mean for your business if you could target potential clients who are actively discussing their need for your services in their day-to-day conversations? No, it's not a Black Mirror episode—it's Voice Data, and CMG has the capabilities to use it to your business advantage.”

A marketing team within media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads, according to a review of CMG marketing materials by 404 Media and details from a pitch given to an outside marketing professional. Called “Active Listening,” CMG claims the capability can identify potential customers “based on casual conversations in real time.”

  • admiralteal@kbin.social
    36·
    7 months ago

    This argument presumes that the entire many-billion and maybe even multiple-trillion dollar global ad industry is ALL based on complete, ineffective nonsense. That everyone has just been bamboozled. That’s a naive view, I think.

    The best argument for why we must be vigilant against ads and data collection by advertisers is because the shit does work. It influences people to make purchases, sometimes against their better judgement or reason. Because subverting someone’s agency over their own body and mind is heinous at a very high level.

    I’m certain you are wrong. You’ve absolutely purchased products that were advertised to you. You just didn’t make the connection between your decision and the advertisements. You THINK seeing an ad makes you unlikely to buy a product, but you likely only really notice and have an emotional response to the ads for products you weren’t likely to buy in the first place.

    • penquin@lemm.eeEnglish
      3·
      7 months ago

      I know for a fact that you’re wrong. You just are. I have never bought a single thing based on an ad, period.

      • Decoy321@lemmy.worldEnglish
        21·
        7 months ago

        My dude, no one is as self aware as you think you are. You do yourself a disservice by thinking so, it means you’re ignoring an exploitable weakness.

      • Nix@merv.newsEnglish
        12·
        7 months ago

        What phone do you hve? What computer? What shoes? What milk do you buy? Ads dont work by showing up and making you go buy it like a drone. You see the ads a thousand times and then you start believing its better than other products

        • Crashumbc@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          7 months ago

          Or even as subtle as brand recognition. Nobody can research every purchase and when you walk walk up to two items and one sounds familiar. You’re more likely to buy that one.