Don't forget to follow to keep yourself updated with AI, security and some motivational stories. I am moody so the stories change based on my mood from romance to thriller to motivation.
How the Hell Did Facebook Know I Added a PS5 to My Amazon Cart?” — The Data Horror Story
Does it know what all sites I visit?
You’re casually scrolling through Facebook or YouTube—maybe it’s just past midnight. Brain’s half asleep. And bam: an ad pops up for that PS5 you just dropped into your Amazon cart. No, they’re not mind-readers… they’re way better.
Here’s the late-night truth: your Amazon, Facebook, and YouTube apps are part of a creepy data web. It’s like they’re whispering secrets about you in some secret midnight gossip circle.
First Act: The Legend of the PS5 Spy
So a fellow blogger—let’s call him Robert—comments on my post and says:
“I was teetering on the brink of contacting Pegasus… The weird thing is that all these adverts for Pegasus … have only been turning up in my inbox since I put the work on KDP … how do they know? Is it somehow to do with cookies on my PC?? Strange….”
He’s convinced its cookies giving away his secrets—like the devil in the midnight snack machine.
And I being an arrogant software engineer who knows all couldn't resist from refuting it and saying cookies are for session management and not data tracking. It helps apps to identify you as a person, and the data leak is most probably happening from this apps sharing your data in the background. Although, I was right, Robert was not wrong as well.
In fact, my explanation itself had communicated how cookies were able to help ad agencies know who Robert was. OfCourse, I deleted my comment back to Robert once I realized my stupidity.
Second Act: What Amazon and Facebook Actually Do with Your Data
Let’s peek behind the curtain (I will also let you know how to opt out of some):
Amazon Shares Behavioral Data—but Not Names
Amazon says they don’t sell your name, email, or direct identifiers. Cute. But they do allow “behavioral retargeting”: showing ads based on what’s in your cart or browsing history. This might be what you are thinking but this goes far beyond it. I will explain this in detail later. The Guardian.
They also let tracking “tags” from Facebook or Google sync with your activity, basically rebuilding your digital soul from scratch. The Guardian.
Fun fact: This is partly why I created my own pdf reader—so at least the stuff you read in a PDF doesn’t get uploaded into some marketer’s spreadsheet. More on the website
Opt out — But they do allow “behavioral retargeting” (more on this later): using your browsing or cart activity to show relevant ads—sometimes on other platforms Amazon.
Amazon-Facebook Data Link: You Make It Voluntary… But Subtle
Meta and Amazon now let you opt-in to account linking. If you connect Facebook/Instagram with Amazon, you may get real-time Prime pricing, product details, even the ability to buy directly without leaving the apps MediaPost.
That also means Amazon’s shopping data and Meta’s ads tools whisper sweet nothings to each other. It’s like letting guests into your house… without reading the fine print.
Alexa: The Crime Solver
Forget about Alexa—that’s another universe entirely. How does Alexa know when I’m going to say the wake word without listening to everything? Does it analyze the word locally or on the backend? Do they log every conversation? Was it really used as evidence to solve a crime? That rabbit hole deserves its own post.
Amazon’s Ad Policies vs. Real-World Behavior
Officially, Amazon forbids sharing user data outside of approved, confidential partners, and disallows advertisers from using Amazon data to do personalized retargeting unless you explicitly consent. Amazon Ads Developer Portal Master
And yet—news shows Amazon is busy cracking down on shady third-party apps. One developer even built a tool that let sellers upload customer data to Facebook to run “lookalike audience” ads. Amazon shut it down WIRED
Third Act: “But I Didn’t Give Permission!” — The Open Secret
So, you will see many posts like this on Reddit.
What folks feel:
“I searched some water filters on Amazon… then saw the same ad on Facebook five days later… I am terrified.”
There’s no direct evidence Amazon sold your data to Facebook. Instead, what’s more likely is that tracking tags and cookies across platforms—plus behavioral ad networks—allow advertisers to remarket products you interacted with. The Guardian.
In short: your actions on Amazon echo across the internet, like a ghost whispering to advertisers.
Final Act: Why Secure Apps and Privacy Matter (And What to Do About It)
Why this matters:
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Your behavior is currency. Even without your name, your digital footprint sells—across platforms.
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Perceived anonymity is a myth. Pseudonymized ≠ private. When Amazon or Meta stitch your actions together, they know you.
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You deserve transparency. These giants shape your digital experience using invisible data threads.
Reflection:
You thought the PS5 ad was just uncanny luck? No. It’s the product of a surveillance circus you didn’t fully RSVP to. It’s not scary—it’s business.
But here’s the thing: knowing how the game is played gives back your power. You are not data—you're a person. And secure apps? They’re not just code—they're the gatekeepers of your digital soul.
If you want can give this app a try and check out the website, feel free to do the same.
So what’s your move? Keep scrolling unknowingly... or put your privacy glasses on and call bullshit?