Publication Date
10-2-2024
Abstract
With the recent rise of a new digital age, many people are ditching more traditional methods of performing everyday tasks and replacing them with free and convenient online services. But as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and that sentiment holds true in terms of online services as well. Consumers pay for these online services with something much more valuable than money—their personal data. This paper explores how companies and governments present consumers with targeted advertisements, shows how targeted advertisements are inherently manipulative, and gives an example of one government and one company using this technology to influence the behavior of its target demographics. The paper concludes with a discussion of the ethical implications of the research, states its limitations, proposes possible solutions by providing contextual information, and concludes by arguing that the only way to change this behavior would be through legislative measures.
Recommended Citation
Garneau, Joseph
(2024)
"Targeted Advertising: How Companies And Governments Are Weaponizing User Data Against The Consumer,"
Venture: The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 6, Article 7.
Available at:
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/umurjournal/vol6/iss1/7
