Have you ever talked about needing a new phone and then been bombarded by ads for the latest phone with some high-megapixel camera or gaming phone the next day? It feels like your smartphone secretly listened to you when you spoke to your best friend on the phone. Well… no. Let us walk you through what happens and how to stop that (just to be safe!)
How Smartphones “Listen” (and Why It’s Not What You Think)
Let’s get to the point—no, your smartphone isn’t actively recording you and selling you off to marketers like you think—that’s only a conspiracy theory. But it does listen to you, just not in ways you imagine.
Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa actively listen to you, only detecting wake words like “Hey Siri” or “OK Google” to activate when needed. However, they don’t record everything you say and store it in the cloud, only when you speak to them after you activate them.
Why Those Targeted Ads Appear
Now, how does your phone give you targeted ads if it’s not constantly recording?! Take those tinfoil hats off because it’s not recording your real life but your virtual one. They track your online activity, what apps you use, what videos you watch, what websites you visit, and sometimes a vague version of your location, only giving them access to information about your state and country. It sounds creepy, but the information is too vague to use against you. Even if someone wanted to track you using it, they’d get nowhere. In short, everything your phone sends to advertisers is a washed-down version of what you do.
How to Protect Your Privacy
While your phone isn’t actively spying on you, it’s essential to be mindful of your privacy. Here are a few tips:
- Disable voice assistants if you don’t use them.
- Review app permissions and restrict microphone access for apps that don’t need it.
- Consider covering your phone’s microphone with a piece of tape or a case when not in use.
- Use a privacy screen guard that prevents others from seeing your screen and potentially activating voice assistants.
- Constantly update your phone! It might keep it occupied for a few minutes, but software updates often include security patches that can address vulnerabilities.
The Bottom Line
Your smartphone isn’t secretly recording your conversations but uses voice activation and collects data for targeted advertising. You can maintain control over your personal information by being mindful of app permissions and protecting your privacy.
