Here's how to find out everything Google thinks it knows about you
A viral TikTok video has revealed a surprising website which unveils everything that Google assumes about its users.
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Hide AdThis includes information like your age, gender, job and interests that the tech giant has managed to figure out about you, and how you use its products and services.
When you use Google products, including the search engine and other tools like Gmail, the company picks up information about its users, and uses this information to personalise ads in an effort to be more accurate and successful.
This information is actually available for people to find out - and a video on TikTok showing people how to access this information has gone viral.
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Hide AdHow to find the website
In response to a video asking users to share what specific facts they know because of their job, TikTok user Trisha Kabob posted a video saying: “So, I’m a digital marketer, and I don’t think anybody realises just how invasive Google is.
#stitch with @teenybee818 Google knows way too much about all of us. #google #ads #digitalmarketing #digitalmarketer #bigbrother
♬ original sound - Trish Kabob“And if you’ve ever thought, “huh, this is a weird ad for me to be seeing” there’s actually a website that you can go to to see all of the assumptions Google has made about you based on your previous searches.
“So, as long as you’re logged into a device that’s logged into your Google account, go to adssettings.google.com.
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Hide Ad“And here, you’ll be able to see every assumption Google has made about you, and why you see the ads that you see.”
Kabob then goes through her own assumptions that Google has about her, stating that it has her age range, gender identity and parental status correct.
Kabob says: “If you have ever Googled it, it’s somewhere in here.
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Hide Ad“You can edit specific factors, like I’m not even quite sure what microblogging is, and you can also turn off ad personalisation altogether. Hooray Big Brother.”
Kabob demonstrates that you can turn off ads for anything that you see in your list. All you need to do is click it and you’ll have the option to turn it off.
You can also turn off ad personalisation together - the option is available at the top of the web page.
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Hide Ad‘I’m offended Google thinks I’m 55’
TikTok users left comments in the original video expressing their thoughts and feelings.
One user wrote: “I’m offended that it estimated me being “55+” - I’m 17!”
Another commented: “Google said I’m single, middle aged, alcoholic and a cat lady. I’m 16 and allergic to cats.”
“Mine said “household income: large”. Speak it into existence Google! 2021 is my year! Bring it on!” wrote another.