I've been monitoring a lot of things lately...well...nearly always actually. It's my nature to critically analyze the effects of media and what games are being played. Sometimes it's interesting, sometimes boring and occasionally I don't care.
Anyway, I've been spending some time tonight on YouTube watching a few DC Talk videos, thinking about performing some of their music at church. I was also catching up NRA news, videos about Gun Appreciation Day (yesterday), which I spent part of shooting with friends, some of my subscriptions, and researching the Rock River Arms 458 SOCOM I'm considering for large game a hunting rifle. During my meanderings I noticed a pattern.
I know YouTube targets ads toward the viewer. As I'm navigating my way around YouTube I found coming up with increasing frequency ads for checking my criminal background.
My criminal background. I know for a fact I don't have one, so why would YouTube assume I might.
Before changing jobs last May I worked with criminal data regularly. Part of getting clearance for that included becoming certified by the Illinois State Police and getting finger printed. (My thanks to the Cook County Sheriff's Police for doing that for me. It was an educational experience and I appreciate all that you have to deal with.) I was essentially certified to run criminal data inquiries on myself.
So why, oh why would YouTube think I was interested in those adds? What sort of faulty logic would lead them to believe I would be interested in checking my criminal background when I'm one of the good guys? I'm a God fearing, law abiding gun owner, member of the NRA and ISRA in a blue state.
I was finally able to "mute" the ads, letting YouTube know I wasn't interested in those ads. After clicking to mute the add, YouTube explained that they'll do their best to show me more relevant ads in the future. Ya think? Quite frankly, I'm offended at the selection of ads with which they targeted me. At the very least it was rude and I took offense. In reality I think it exposes a mindset and prejudice for targeting ads. Whether the logic for targeting that ad was developed by YouTube, the advertiser, or both remains a question.
Oh man...I'm getting tired and will be signing off. As a parting suggestion for YouTube and to whom it concern, what the h**l was that in YouTube? I can appreciate trying to target ads.
However, get it right.