The process of “keeping tabs” on an internet user.

Tracking on the internet is more common now than ever. Tracking is one of the most common ways companies gather our data. When our online spending habits and online behavior is collected to learn our preferences, we are being tracked. For marketing purposes, companies use this information to target ads to us. Computer algorithmslearn what we are doing and what products we may be interested in buying. We are constantly sharing details about ourselves and bots study who we are. This is why we often see ads catered to our tastes. If you have recently searched for terms such as “the best smartphone”, you will soon notice advertisements selling smart phones will soon appear on your browser.

Tracking usually happens when you accept “cookies”, not the edible kind, but a program used to record our data. If sites ask permission, this activity is not illegal. Allowing these cookies gives permission for the site to start collecting your data. When you accept cookies, this data is gathered by either a first-party or third-party company. While many of us don’t seem to mind that computers are studying our every move, others feel that this is a breach of privacy.