[protonimitate]

I have assumed for a while now that they did, was anyone really attributing this to coincidence?

Just the other day one of my co-workers mentioned a footwear brand (very specific brand, which I have never searched or bought from their website) and the next day I had ads for that brand appearing everywhere.

But, honestly, this type of ad targeting can be useful when used correctly. If I'm going to get ads shoved down my throat, it might as well be something I am interested in. What I want to see is expanded options - in the case of the footwear show me brands that are similar so I can make a decision, and not 12 banners of the same exact product.

Obviously, the biggest issue is that your phone is out of the users control.

[haspoken]

I find ads that have nothing to do with me are much less distracting.