I have written several blogs about ads for certain products “magically” appearing on my Facebook or Instagram feed after I spoke about them.  For example, a Van Cleef & Arpels ad had popped up on my Instagram feed after my son and I discussed a necklace he was thinking of purchasing. I questioned, in those blogs, whether my devices were actually listening to me as I never searched for any information about that necklace.

My question today is different. Are those seemingly random  pop-up ads actually working? I do admit to buying some Laura Geller make-up after numerous ads seem to “randomly” pop on my newsfeed. My husband was recently telling me about a nozzle he was thinking about buying for our sprinklers. After our conversation, when an ad for the exact nozzle “randomly” appeared on his Facebook feed he bought the nozzle.

I am using the word “randomly” sarcastically as I know that these ads are anything but random. Laura Geller successfully targeted me, as my social media algorithms indicated I was in the gender and age group that she markets her make-up to. While social media ads can introduce us to useful products and brands, they also encourage impulse spending and unrealistic expectations.

My husband denies being influenced, by the ad he received, as he was considering buying the product anyway.  I argue that he was because it may not have been by that manufacturer. Or he may not have purchased it at all. Somehow, the ad targeting him just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I do not think that was random at all. He was influenced.

Have you been influenced?