Facebook is ‘watching’ you make purchases in physical store in order to show you relevant ads on its platform.
The social media giant has partnered with numerous retailers to gather customer data, allowing it to find profiles on the site and target them with specific ads.
However, users can opt-out of being severed ads by selecting ‘Ads’ in Facebook settings and choosing ‘Not allowed’ under ‘ads based on data from partners’.
Consumers have shared their experience of seeing ads on their Facebook page on Twitter.
Matt Webb tweeted: ‘Two weeks ago I spent an evening in a bar drinking a beer I’d not heard of before (a canned IPA).’
‘Since then I have Facebook ads for the brand more than daily.’
‘I assume this isn’t a coincidence…’
Facebook is ‘watching’ you make purchases in physical store in order to show you relevant ads on its platform. The social media giant has partnered with numerous retailers to gather customer data, allowing it to find profiles on the site and target them with specific ads
Others chimed in to explain that using a card is what opens to door for Facebook to see what you are spending money on.
‘If you paid with contactless/ your card that’s your vector,’ Daniel Harvey explained.
Another noted that it is not a coincidence that Webb was bombarded with beer ads, as Facebook and Google both knew he was in a bar because of location tracking.
Aaron Holmes with Business Insider went as far as to contact Facebook to learn how the entire process works, which begins with the retailer gathering information about you from your online or in-store purchases.
Consumers have shared their experience of seeing ads on their Facebook page on Twitter. The entire process works begins with the retailer gathering information about you from your online or in-store purchases.
If a retailer wants to target customers with ads on Facebook, it sends the social media firm details of what was purchased and with information about the consumer so the site can match their profile. This can be done by using the name on their credit card
However, Facebook told Holmes that it only needs ‘a few data points from retailers in order to create a ‘custom audience,’ or a group of users it determines have shopped at that retailer. But they can watch were you are shopping through tracking technology
If a retailer wants to target customers with ads on Facebook, it sends the social media firm details of what was purchased and with information about the consumer so the site can match their profile.
This information can be everything from the person’s name to their email, phone number or date of birth.
However, Facebook told Holmes that it only needs ‘a few data points from retailers in order to create a ‘custom audience,’ or a group of users it determines have shopped at that retailer.
A Facebook spokesperson did note that all the information is hashed, converting one value to another, prior to it being sent to Facebook, which then deletes it is used to find a user on the profile.
Finally, retailers then pay Facebook to show ads to the ‘custom audience’ of users matched to them.
A Facebook spokesperson did note that all the information is hashed, converting one value to another, prior to it being sent to Facebook, which then deletes it is used to find a user on the profile
Many may have not been aware of Facebook’s ad targeting, but the social media site is allowing consumers to opt-out. Users select ‘Ads’ and choose ‘not allowed’ in ‘ads based on data from partners
The site also let people check if an ad on their News Feed is specifically targeting them. To use the tool, select ‘Why am I seeing this ad?’ from the dropdown menu on the top right of the ad
According to Business Insider, ‘several retailers use these ad tools, including KFC, Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods.’
Tom Hassett, VP of media at Dick’s, said in the post: ‘Now with store visits custom audiences, we re-engaged customers who had visited one of our stores with a targeted Facebook ad at a profitable Omni-ROAS.’
‘And, using lookalike audiences, created from people similar to those who visited our store, opened up a broader audience of new customers for us to reach, driving incremental foot traffic and sales.’
Many may have not been aware of Facebook’s ad targeting, but the social media site is allowing consumers to opt-out.
Users select ‘Ads’ and choose ‘not allowed’ in ‘ads based on data from partners.’
The site also let people check if an ad on their News Feed is specifically targeting them.
To use the tool, select ‘Why am I seeing this ad?’ from the dropdown menu on the top right of the ad.