A marketing team within media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads, according to a review of CMG marketing materials by 404 Media and details from a pitch given to an outside marketing professional. Called “Active Listening,” CMG claims the capability can identify potential customers “based on casual conversations in real time.”
The scariest thing about marketing is that it does work. You may avoid ads you notice, but you also ignore like 90% of them and they stick in your brain. The entire game is recognition. If you see two products side by side, and one was advertised to you a year ago via a random ad at the gas station, and you’ve never heard of the other before, you are much more likely to buy the one you’ve been exposed to.
Advertising is a net drain on our economy, but they spend the money on it because it tips people their direction.