Twitter Tracks Users for Sake of Social Media Ads

Twitter Tracks Users for Sake of Social Media Ads

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Jul 24, 2013

Twitter is probably my most favorite social media platform, but when I heard that they were experimenting with ways to track me, and you, all around the Internet, even when we leave Twitter, I became a bit skittish to say the least. This new off-site tracking is Twitter"s way of relaying information to advertisers so that ads can be created to heavily target certain people.

While it is well known that Twitter already tracks users by using "Follow" buttons and social widgets that tell Twitter where people go after leaving their site, Twitter is upping the ante a bit in the users" favor. (Of course, don"t forget that you can configure AdBlock to block the "Follow" buttons and widgets on third party sites.)

Twitter is giving users the chance to activate "Do Not Track," enabling users to have more power and control over the security of their social media experiences.

How to deactivate Twitter"s new off-site tracking

  1. Log into your Twitter account.
  2. At the top of the screen, beside Twitter"s search bar, click on the grey "circle" that looks like a grommet, and choose "settings" from the drop-down menu.Twitter Tracks Users for Sake of Social Media Ads

  3. Scroll down and beside "Personalization," uncheck "Tailor Twitter based on my recent website visits."
  4. Then, beside "Promoted Content," uncheck "Tailor ads based on information shared by ad partners."
    Twitter Tracks Users for Sake of Social Media Ads

  5. Scroll to the bottom, and click on the "Save changes" button.

According to Twitter regarding their new off-site tracking, they aren"t going to put more ads on their site, just better ones, based on the results produced by their off-site tracking.

Ultimately, I think it"s a bit creepy to track and collect data on people when they leave Twitter in order to improve Twitter"s advertising. Just seems a little unethical somehow.

Source:http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/twitter-wants-start-tracking-you-web-heres-how-opt-out-6C10543909

http://lifehacker.com/twitter-wants-to-start-tracking-you-on-the-web-heres-661569459

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

  • UL Solutions Launches Artificial Intelligence Safety Certification Services

    UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in safety science, today announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) safety certification services, enabling comprehensive assessments for evaluating the safety of AI-powered products. Read Now

  • ESA Announces Initiative to Introduce the SECURE Act in State Legislatures

    The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, has announced plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services. Read Now

    • Guard Services
Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.