Big tech companies know a lot about their users. When people agree to terms of service or log in using social media accounts, they share more information than they might be comfortable with. Although people usually cannot see what these companies know about them, Amazon shoppers recently found out they could view some insights into how Amazon sees them. This discovery went viral, leading to a list of funny observations Amazon has about its customers.
Amazon keeps detailed records of individual customers. Every purchase, whether it’s a book, clothes, or hobby supplies, gives Amazon clues about who you are. However, not all assumptions made by the company are accurate. Someone might buy an item for a friend, and Amazon could think it is for them. If you’re curious about what Amazon believes about you, TechCrunch explained how to check this information.
To find out what Amazon thinks, users should click on “Account” and then go to “Your Account.” From there, they need to select “Ordering and shopping preferences,” and then “Your Shopping preferences.” At the bottom of the page, they can click on “Manage your information” to see Amazon’s views on them.
Research from Security.org indicates that Google keeps the most data on users compared to other tech companies. They track details like addresses and comments on YouTube, but they do not store Social Security numbers or driver’s license numbers. However, they do share a lot of data with third parties, including advertisers.
Meta also collects user data but not to the same extent as Google. They gather payment information, contact details, and location data, sharing this with various advertisers. This is why users often see very specific ads on platforms like Facebook or Instagram.
Amazon, meanwhile, does keep more sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and stored photos and videos. They also collect documents and contact information from devices.
What do you think about how much companies know about their customers?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Laura Radavičiūtė