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When connected to my home network, I only use the Facebook app on my phone. I never log into Facebook via a browser on my laptop or other computer connected to my home network.

How is it possible that when I search for something on Google on any computer connected to my home network, I am soon after targeted by ads relating to what I was searching for, through the Facebook app on my phone.

I understand that the my public IP address will be the same when I use any device on my home network connecting to the internet.

However, how is data getting shared exactly in detail? I search for something on Google on any computer on my network. Then Google or websites know my IP address and track my activity, ok, but how do I then get targeted via ads via the Facebook app on my phone?

It's clear that Facebook will know my public IP address, and so will Google and websites, but where is the connection and how does my IP address get shared? Thanks

Engineer999
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  • Your question revolves around the murky world of data collection, data brokers, and data monetization. The inner workings of this world are opaque at best, but we know that data that we leave behind from much of what we do online is collected, bought, and sold in near real time. Related: https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/252566/feasability-of-deanonymizing-commercially-available-advertiser-data – mti2935 Jul 17 '22 at 00:20
  • Probably doubleclick + chrome account (or some other account you use on both devices): https://www.adexchanger.com/analytics/doubleclick-ad-tracking-now-allowed-on-facebook/#:~:text=Share%3A,Google%20technologies%20on%20its%20platform – pcalkins Sep 08 '22 at 22:18

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However, how is data getting shared exactly in detail?

We don't know, and will never know how our data is collected and shared exactly. But you can expect that as good as everything is known about you.

Then Google or websites know my IP address and track my activity, ok, but how do I then get targeted via ads via the Facebook app on my phone?

Many websites include trackers, including Facebook trackers. Based on the search results you've clicked, Facebook will know what search queries have been done from your IP connection. Most straightforward, they could just push related ads to everyone on your home network. But it may also be possible they have pinpointed your phone and computer to you individually, and thus know even better who to target.

Bottom line: you can never know for sure, but the fact that this was both within the same network makes the targeting not that obscure.

Wouter
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