Sleeping Next To Your Smartphone Could Mean Targeted Ads By Morning

I get it... my smart devices are paying attention to what I do and what I say. When I first realized this a few years ago, it was unnerving. I was talking aloud about the need for a new lawnmower, and all of a sudden, ads for zero-turn mowers started popping up on my computer and social media feeds. I've now come to accept that this digital eavesdropping and monitoring is simply the new normal, although experts emphasize that your phone is NOT listening to you. If you own or are around computers, smartphones, or smart speakers, I'm becoming more and more convinced that what you say, as well as your scrolling habits, are forming algorithms tailored to your supposed interests.

An Explosion of CPAP Pop-Up Ads

A few weeks ago, I started noticing ads for CPAP machines on my Facebook feed. At first, I didn't give it a second thought, but after several days I began to wonder why I was being fed this CPAP bombardment. I had never browsed for one of these devices, nor mentioned one out loud. CPAP is an acronym for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It provides a steady stream of air for those who may suffer from sleep apnea. It can stop soft throat tissue from collapsing, which then stops snoring --- WAIT!

Evidence That I'm Being Monitored During My Sleep?

Yes, I sometimes snore in my sleep. Yes, my smartphone and my laptop usually sit on my nightstand. I do believe that one of those devices digitally registered that I was snoring, and now these CPAP ads have been added to my feed. Given this revelation of potential passive intrusion, I will no longer take my phone with me while using the bathroom, lest I start seeing Gas-X ads flooding my feed.