Google Tracks Your Web History, Guesses Your Age And Gender
In light of Google’s new privacy policy, writers across the web were curious about what the search giant knew about them already. Several rediscovered the Google ad preferences page, and were surprised (and often amused) to see the profile the search engine has constructed of them based on their browsing histories.
How could Google be confused about who you are when it already has your information? If you have an account on Google+, YouTube, or Gmail, Google should already have your info. But as Kashmir Hill at Forbes explains, Google ad preferences doesn’t use Google products exclusively; it tracks your browsing history, and compares that with info about millions of websites. For example, if you’re a young lady who visits tech and sports websites often, feminism might not stop Google from thinking you’re an older dude if the stats say that’s who frequents those sites.
Even if Google gets the basics correct, it has been known to make some odd assumptions about interests. While Google correctly identified this author’s age and gender, it listed tech subjects almost exclusively as my interests (while I probably spend much more time on general news sites).
Of course, privacy concerns cast a shadow on the fun of seeing what Google thinks of us. Users can opt out of ad preferences at any time.
What do you think? Does Google have an accurate picture of who you are?
[...] example, if you're the immature woman who visits tech as well as … Read some-more upon DrJays.com Live CNET Editors' review You can select not to sync it, though afterwards you'll be blank out [...]
[...] Google Tracks Your Web History, Guesses Your Age And Gender Google Tracks Your Web History, Guesses Your Age And Gender But as Kashmir Hill during Forbes explains, Google ad preferences doesn't operate Google products exclusively; it marks your browsing history, as well as compares which with info about millions of websites. For example, if you're a immature woman who visits tech as well as … Read some-more upon DrJays.com Live [...]