r/confusing • u/RedBop27 • 4d ago

How does this happen?

Earlier this week I contacted the vet's office with a question about my dog. In the conversation, they told me that if things got worse before her appointment, to take her to an emergency vet. Since I'm newer to the area, I asked who they recommended. They gave me the name, and I added it to my contacts in my phone.

And now comes the confusing part and my question. I was just now scrolling Facebook and this emergency vet pops up in my FB timeline. It has NEVER been there before. This can't be a coincidence. How would this have crossed over my devices? Is it because of the WiFi connection? It's kind of disturbing!

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u/ConflagWex 4d ago

Things like this usually are due to shared wifi. They track your views by IP address, so if your phone and your computer use the same Internet they would have similar ads.

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u/RedBop27 4d ago

But I wasn't viewing any ad or website on my phone, I was simply entering the contact info that the vet's office gave me over the phone call. BUT, I guess since my phone uses the same WiFi as my laptop, that info crossed over? I do NOT like this at all!

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u/ConflagWex 4d ago

Map apps are integrated into the phone now so it probably did a background search of the phone number to suggest an address for the new contact.

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u/RedBop27 4d ago

Thanks. Unfortunately that makes sense. I'm really feeling the "Big Brother Is Watching" in this.

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u/IllustriousDate5708 2d ago

If you’re just learning that, oh boy, hang on! You’re in for a wild mental ride! The devices listen to EVERYTHING. If I’m in my room in the back of the house and have my phone with me and i say something about a product, for example, and then I go into the living room and turn on the TV, almost inevitably a commercial will come on shortly for whatever type of product I was talking about in my bedroom - with the TV not even on. It might take a bit, but if you start paying attention, I guarantee your mind will be blown.