What Does Your Computer Know About You?

Websites and apps like Google, YouTube, and Instagram are constantly gathering data about you. But that isn’t supposed to happen. There are laws to protect kids under 13 from being tracked online. The problem is that companies often don’t know how old users are. Certain websites are supposed to verify users’ ages, but not all of them do. 

As a result, companies could be tracking your every move as you search, watch videos, and play games online.  

“Based on your behaviors, companies are able to figure out what things on the internet you will be most interested in,” says Kalinda Raina, an expert on online privacy.

Sometimes, this can be a good thing. For example, when YouTube recommends videos based on what you’ve watched, you might discover something you like. 

But websites are mainly collecting data about you for another purpose: to make money. They sell your information to advertisers, who use it to figure out what you’re likely to buy. The advertisers then place ads for those items on the websites you visit often.

This practice is called ad targeting (see “How Targeted Ads Work”). And it’s big business. Google made $116 billion from advertising last year alone.

Websites and apps like Google, YouTube, and Instagram are constantly gathering data about you. But that isn’t supposed to happen. There are laws to protect kids under 13 from being tracked online. The problem is that companies often don’t know how old users are. Certain websites are supposed to verify users’ ages. But not all of them do. 

As a result, companies could be tracking your every move as you search, watch videos, and play games online.  

“Based on your behaviors, companies are able to figure out what things on the internet you will be most interested in,” says Kalinda Raina, an expert on online privacy.

Sometimes, this can be a good thing. For example, YouTube recommends videos based on what you’ve watched. This might help you discover something you like. 

But websites are mainly collecting data about you for another purpose: to make money. They sell your information to advertisers. Advertisers use it to figure out what you’re likely to buy. Then they place ads for those items on the websites you visit often.

This practice is called ad targeting (see “How Targeted Ads Work”). And it’s big business. Google made $116 billion from advertising last year alone. 

Many experts say ad targeting is a major invasion of privacy. That’s especially true because most people don’t realize their online activity is being tracked. Every website should have a privacy policy to explain what data it’s gathering about users, but that information is often confusing and hard to find. 

Does that mean you should be worried about ad targeting? Many internet companies say no. These companies know they could be fined for tracking kids online without their parents’ permission. So you won’t see targeted ads when you’re logged into Google Classroom, for example. 

But the laws work only if the website knows your age. What if you’re on a website that hasn’t verified how old you are? The site may track your activity as if you were an adult—and possibly show you ads that might not be appropriate for kids.

Many experts say ad targeting is a major invasion of privacy. That’s especially true because most people don’t realize their online activity is being tracked. Every website should have a privacy policy to explain what data it’s gathering about users. But that information is often confusing and hard to find. 

Does that mean you should be worried about ad targeting? Many internet companies say no. These companies know they could be fined for tracking kids online without their parents’ permission. So you won’t see targeted ads when you’re logged into Google Classroom, for example. 

But the laws work only if the website knows your age. What if you’re on a website that hasn’t verified how old you are? The site may track your activity as if you were an adult. It could possibly show you ads that might not be appropriate for kids.

There are ways to limit what companies learn about you (see “You Have the Power”). Raina explains that it also helps to think of the internet as a public place where you’re never truly alone. 

So think twice about what you search for and the sites you visit. Someone may be watching. 

There are ways to limit what companies learn about you (see “You Have the Power”). Raina explains that it also helps to think of the internet as a public place, where you’re never truly alone. 

So think twice about what you search for and the sites you visit. Someone may be watching. 

1. Why are certain websites supposed to verify the age of users?

2. What is the main reason websites collect data about their users? Explain.

3. What is a targeted ad? Give an example.

1. Why are certain websites supposed to verify the age of users?

2. What is the main reason websites collect data about their users? Explain.

3. What is a targeted ad? Give an example.