Facebook Weirdness

[props]

So the only place I talk about basses online is here on Talkbass. I keep track of some of my musician friends and their bands/projects on Facebook, but I've done that for a very long time. Nothing has changed recently when it comes to my Facebook or other online behavior when it comes to music. However, out of the blue, Facebook is filling up my newsfeed with "suggestions" like the one in this screenshot. I think it's weird. Is Facebook now stalking my online behavior on other pages, like this forum? Has this been happening to anyone else?

Oh, and that is a killer Jazz in the pic.

 

[bholder]

Facebook is da debbil.

 

[RandalPinkFloyd]

Yes via cookies and trackers. To start with, a lot of websites have facebook trackers on their pages. You can combat facebook cookies and trackers by adding a facebook container extension to your browser. Here's the one for firefox: Facebook Container – Get this Extension for Firefox (en-US) if you use this, when you visit a site with facebook trackers on it, you'll notice an icon next to the component:

If you've never used containers before, it works just like it sounds, it keeps facebook inside a software container so to speak. If I were on this site, and then clicked a link to go to facebook, I would not be able to hit the "back" button on my browser, as the instance is now in a the facebook container so that facebook can't follow you around utilizing the cookies from all the sites to see what you're doing, what you're looking at, etc to try and "better understand you". Google does this too (yes, there is a google container as well). I would highly recommend using the privacy badger extension along with decentraleyes for added protection.

 

[DirtDog]

Yes. Facebook knows.

 

[mrcbass]

I'm still pretty unclear how Facebook works, but I've recently noticed, that as I add contacts to my phone, those people suddenly appear as possible friends on Facebook if they have accounts. I figured this out when two neighbors who I recently exchanged numbers with popped up.

This is some spooky technology.

 

[Selta]

Talkbass straight up exchanges your information with several 3rd parties:

So yeah, cross-site tracking is a thing and facebook, google, et. al., are all for gathering as much information about you, to turn around and sell it (literally and figuratively).

 

[P. Aaron]

I call them facebookkk.

 

[Razman]

Watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix and then choose what to do with Bookface.

 

[Gothic]

Search for vegan cat food on google and open up a few pages about it. See what pops up on facebook.

 

[White Beard]

In the last week I have noticed a great uptick in bass related ads across my interwebs. Not facebook. All of the World Wide Webs.

 

[ElectroVibe]

This has been going on for years.

 

[db59]

Just like now, there are Reverb ads of basses I have looked at...think I'll buy them to make it go away.

 

[Gothic]

In the last week I have noticed a great uptick in bass related ads across my interwebs. Not facebook. All of the World Wide Webs.

Just like now, there are Reverb ads of basses I have looked at...think I'll buy them to make it go away.

See? That's the spirit!

 

[MattZilla]

They’re always watching.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

I ditched Facebook when I realized how toxic and deleterious it was for me and society in general. I initially liked the concept of staying in touch with my friends and family, unfortunately what I first enjoyed was eventually outweighed by such invasions of privacy and many other awful things.

I also observed a "Facebook fatigue" with less and less of my friends posting original organic content while seeing more and more commercial or political posts trying to influence my actions and my thoughts.

What really led me to pull the plug was watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix. It totally explains why you see this bass suggestion: Social media companies want you to stay on their site as long as possible and will do everything they can to succeed.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

is evil

 

[DirtDog]

is evil

When a service is “free”, you are the product.

 

[RichardW]

Facebook cross-tracks virtually every other site you visit online, and, while it's no defense, so does virtually every other site you visit. They are also tracking your location, and, if you believe some theories, are listening to you via your phone. (I was talking to someone about my sore shoulder and the next day I got ads for shoulder exercise equipment on instagram.)

The latest iteration of the Mac iOS has built in tracking blockers (mine says it's prevented 169 trackers from following me in the last seven days). The other thing which can help, some, is to NOT sign in to other sites via your FB or Google accounts. That gives them permission to watch everything you do on those other sites.

When I was a kid, the adults would point to Communist Russia and China and say "see, those countries spy on their own people." Well--Americans have handed over the spying to profit making corporations. Feel better?

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Here's the one for firefox: Facebook Container – Get this Extension for Firefox (en-US) if you use this, when you visit a site with facebook trackers on it, you'll notice an icon next to the component: View attachment 4389534

I second this Firefox add-in. It works very well. You will notice a distinct change in your newsfeed, too, as FB can only track other things you view on FB.

 

[HolmeBass]

I ditched Facebook when I realized how toxic and deleterious it was for me and society in general. I initially liked the concept of staying in touch with my friends and family, unfortunately what I first enjoyed was eventually outweighed by such invasions of privacy and many other awful things.

I also observed a "Facebook fatigue" with less and less of my friends posting original organic content while seeing more and more commercial or political posts trying to influence my actions and my thoughts.

What really led me to pull the plug was watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix. It totally explains why you see this bass suggestion: Social media companies want you to stay on their site as long as possible and will do everything they can to succeed.

The irony of reading this post on this site is quite biting.