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.”
Advertisements aren’t about convincing people to immediately buy a product or service. They’re about opening people up to the idea that it exists. It’s why anti-smoking ads are called “awareness campaigns”. People don’t buy things they don’t know exist. Advertisements certainly aren’t about convincing people not in the company’s target market to buy their product. I’m not going to buy a Pixel 8 Pro even after 40 advertisements if I already own a Pixel 7a I bought several months ago (real life example). Advertisements are about getting the right message in front of the right people at the right time.
Advertising is manipulative in the same way movies or books are manipulative; they put forward ideas you might be receptive to. If the customer finds the product worthwhile, and the company gets paid for their work, I don’t see the evil so many associate with advertising.
Anyway, I use an adblocker and don’t watch TV.