Social media told me to buy this Facebook edition.

According to good old Wikipedia, advertising is an audio or visual form of marketing used openly to promote a product, service or idea. Back in the olden days, ads were on the TV and everyone who saw the same show, saw the same advert. Like Britain's Got Talent? Enjoy multiple adverts for Morrisons. Love X-Factor? Hope you're not hungry because you're seeing at least four Just Eat adverts. Social media, however, is a different kettle of fish. Thanks to algorithms and other science words, adverts on one's social media can be personally tailored made to your interests, demographic and spending habits. However, do they actually work?

Well, this is why I'm introducing 'social media told me to buy this'. This is where I am going to take on all of the social media platforms and seeing if the ads actually interest me. Shout out to Safiya Nygaard who has done multiple videos of this already, she inspired this segment and I love her content, so go and give her a subscribe when you've finished reading. The first social media is going under fire, is Facebook, a social media platform used by 2.23 billion people including yours truly.

I'm going to look at the first 5 adverts that pop up at my Facebook. So here we go.

Advert 1: Romwe

 

Why did I see this advert? 

According the Facebook, I saw Romwe because I had previously visited the store. This was correct, I was spending most of yesterday doing the internet equivalent of window shopping and Romwe was one of the websites I was looking at. Facebook also said I was looking at Romwe because I was aged 18-34 and lived in the UK.

Accuracy of the algorithms: 5/5

Would I buy something from this advert? Yes when I have an income in my bank. 

Advert 2: Marvel's Spider Man game for the PlayStation 4 from Amazon. 

Why did I see this advert?

Despite my family using the website daily, Amazon believed that I am somebody they want Facebook to reach. They also said that Amazon wanted to reach people aged 18-34 who lived in the UK. 

Accuracy of the algorithms: 4/5

Would buy something from this adverts? No. I already use Amazon, so the advert is kind of pointless. 

Advert 3. Packlane

Why did I see this advert?

I was given this advert because I'd visited Packlane before. Ironically because I was looking for a lead from a Facebook advert, I clicked on last week. Packlane wasn't said lead and now I have lots of adverts to show for it. Facebook also chose to target me because I was over 18.

Accuracy of algorithms: 4/5

Would I buy something from this advert? No. 

Advert 4. Endsleigh Student insurance. 

Why did I see this advert?

Facebook said that this advert came up because I'd clicked on the website before. This sounds right because one of my old student digs used Endsleigh for their contents cover. Facebook also said, that they targeted me because I am aged between 18 and 24. 

Accuracy of the algorithms: 5/5.

Would I buy something from this advert? No. 

Advert 5. Google Ads.

 

Why did I see this advert?

Facebook said that I had this advert because Google wants to reach people interested in online advertising. This could be accurate because I have been looking at ways to advertise my tutoring business. I have also googled how to grow this blog. Typical, one day, you google how to grow your blog, next day Google wants to grow their website visits. It also wanted to reach people aged 21-64. 

Accuracy of algorithms: 5/5

Would I buy something from this advert? Maybe, if I had some more money. 

So what have we learnt?

Algorithms cause an extremely accurate personalisation of advertisements. To some creepy levels of stalking. I found it very interesting that I only had one item of fashion or beauty, despite visiting a variety of make up and clothes shops recently. In addition, if  I did put my hand in my pocket and brought these things, I would have a very interesting selection of products to talk about. 

So there you have it. Call it personalisation. Call it stalking. Either way, it is providing more personalised advertisements than any TV reality show could dream of. 

Have a look at the first 5 ads on your Facebook and tell me about them in the comments. Let's see how similar/different our algorithms actually are. 

Until next time people remember that you are beautiful. 

Kelly