Behavioral Advertising

Definition & Meaning:

Behavioral advertising is a technique used by online advertisers to present targeted ads to consumers based on their previous browsing behavior.

This method collects information about your activities online, such as the websites you visit, the searches you perform, and the links you click on.

The goal is to display advertisements that are most relevant to your interests, increasing the likelihood that you will engage with the content.

For example, if you frequently search for running shoes online, you might start seeing ads for sports apparel and footwear on various websites you visit.

Advertisers use cookies and similar tracking technologies to gather this data. These cookies track your online movements and help advertisers build a profile of your interests.

Behavioral advertising can be seen across various platforms, including social media, search engines, and other websites you visit. While this can make online ads more relevant to you, it also raises privacy concerns.

It involves collecting and analyzing a lot of your personal browsing data. As a result, many websites provide options for you to opt out of behavioral advertising or manage your privacy settings to limit tracking.

Understanding how behavioral advertising works can help you make informed decisions about your online privacy. You might choose to clear your cookies regularly, use privacy-focused browsers, or adjust your ad preferences on platforms that allow it.

This way, you have control over the amount of personal information you share online and how it’s used for advertising purposes.