Are Companies Over Stepping?

                It has come to people’s attention that companies have started using purchase history and likes on social media to suggest products and advertisements that they think buyers will like.  This could be extremely helpful in a sense, but is this a violation of privacy?  A fantastic example of this is a story that got out about target sending advertisements for pregnancy items to a fifteen year old girl, weeks before she told her parents she was pregnant.  While it is amazing that target was able to pick up on that just based on the girl’s purchases that is quite a risky assumption to make.

                Personally my opinion on this technology is split.  I think it’s really cool that they can collect data on what each individual likes and use it to suggest items you are more likely to want.  I can see how this could be a huge advantage for companies to sell more.  But at the same time, it is a little sketchy that they are watching your every move and know things about you that you may not want others to know.  I definitely think this can be both a good and bad thing.

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