WATCH — Is your device spying on you?
Experts say that's a bit of a stretch
Sometimes it can feel like you’re living in a spy movie and your phone is the bad guy.
You spent the whole summer dreaming about the latest pair of sneakers and then, wham!
You pick up your phone and suddenly you’re seeing ads all over your social media feeds for those very same shoes.
Creepy, right? So what exactly is going on here?
Yes, it’s definitely possible that the software on your device is listening to you, especially if you rely on a digital assistant like Alexa or Siri to help navigate your day.
But experts say there isn’t much evidence to show that you’re being spied on.
In fact, the reason your device knows so much about you, is actually much simpler than that: it has to do with your everyday habits.
Click play to hear CBC Kids News contributor Saara Chaudry explain, in three minutes or less.
Looking for more tips on consuming, creating or sharing digital content?
Check out some of Saara’s other videos:
- How do social media influencers make money?
- How to tell the difference between real and fake news
- How do social media algorithms work?
- Who’s buying and selling your personal information?
- What to know before clicking ‘I agree’ on an app agreement
Have more questions? We'll look into it for you. Email us at cbckidsnews@cbc.ca.
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