Have you ever wondered why you get ads of the products you were thinking of in social media ?
Personalized ads, also known as targeted ads, are advertisements tailored to an individual’s preferences, interests, and online behavior. They are a result of data collection and analysis, allowing advertisers to deliver content that is more relevant to the viewer. This approach aims to enhance the user experience by presenting ads that align with the user’s tastes and needs. While personalized ads can feel more engaging and useful, they also raise important privacy and data security concerns, as they rely on gathering and utilizing personal information. Striking the right balance between personalization and privacy remains a key challenge in the digital advertising landscape.
You can choose to opt out of this feature by trusting the providers provided settings.
Opt out from Meta / Facebook
To opt out of personalized ads on Facebook, which is now a part of Meta Platforms, Inc., you can follow these steps:
- Facebook Ad Preferences:
- Log in to your Facebook account.
- Click on the downward-facing arrow in the upper-right corner of the Facebook homepage.
- Select “Settings & Privacy,” and then choose “Settings.”
- Ads:
- In the left-hand column, click on “Ads.”
- Under the “Ad Settings” section, you’ll see options related to ad preferences.
- Ad Personalization:
- Click on “Ad Preferences.”
- Here, you can review and adjust your ad preferences.
- Opt Out of Ad Personalization:
- Click on “Data About Your Activity From Partners.”
- You’ll see the option to “Choose Data to Share With Partners.” Click on this.
- Opt Out of Future Off-Facebook Activity:
- On this page, you can choose to “Don’t allow” the use of your activity on Facebook to show you ads on and off Facebook.
- Click “Save Changes” to confirm your choice.
Please note that while opting out of ad personalization can reduce the personalization of ads on Facebook and its affiliated platforms, you may still see ads, but they will be less tailored to your interests and activity. These settings are associated with your Facebook account, so they will apply across different devices and platforms where you use Facebook.
Also, please be aware that the process may evolve over time as Meta (formerly Facebook) updates its settings and privacy options.
Opt out from Google
To opt out of personalized ads on Google, you can follow these steps:
- Google Ads Settings:
Visit the Google Ads Settings page at https://adssettings.google.com while signed in to your Google account. - Personalization Options:
Here, you can review information Google uses to personalize ads for you. You’ll see categories and interests Google has associated with your account. - Turn Off Personalization:
To opt out of personalized ads, you can either toggle off the switch that says “Ad personalization” or click on “Ad personalization is on” and then click the “Turn off” button. - Confirmation:
Google will ask you to confirm your choice. Click “Turn off” to confirm that you want to opt out of personalized ads.
Keep in mind that while this will reduce the personalization of ads, you may still see ads on Google services, but they will be less tailored to your interests and browsing behavior.
Additionally, remember that this setting is associated with your Google account. If you use multiple devices or browsers, you may need to repeat these steps for each one or ensure that you are signed in with the same Google account.
