# Did Google know it was my birthday? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588 "2017-05-14T14:12:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/1 "2017-05-14T14:12:46Z")
I called up my browser yesterday morning, which has Google as my default search engine, and the logo was festooned with candles. I thought perhaps it was a typical commemoration of some event or another, but it was also my birthday. When I clicked on the logo, it just took me to a list of events that occurred on that date in history. Now, it wouldn’t surprise me if they could generate information that specific to an individual, but I don’t even have an account with them (that I can remember). Has this happened to other people? Do they really track those minute details? It’s a bit creepy, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/2 "2017-05-14T14:17:25Z")
Google did know it was my birthday last March, but then I do have an account with them . My recollection was the google doodle was quite specific. Perhaps goggle had a “guess” it was so was less specific. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/3 "2017-05-14T22:25:05Z")
If you have any kind of account with google or a related website then yes it knew your birthday. It knows my birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/4 "2017-05-14T22:54:41Z")
Happy belated birthday, I hope you enjoyed! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/5 "2017-05-14T22:57:57Z")
[Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=793818)’s a year-old thread on the same matter, linking to an [article from The Telegraph](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/advice/9949627/How-does-Google-know-my-birthday.html) about it. In short, Google knows all about you (and me). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/6 "2017-05-14T23:44:53Z")
\*It sees you when you’re sleeping, It knows when you’re awake. It knows if you’ve been bad or good. So be good for goodness’ sake. \* ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/7 "2017-05-15T00:38:44Z")
It was my b-day yesterday and google didn’t notice at all. I feel relieved and bummed out at the same time. ☹😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/8 "2017-05-15T01:33:02Z")
But now that you’ve said that out loud, Google will notice and remember for next year. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/9 "2017-05-15T03:33:44Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > It was my b-day yesterday and google didn’t notice at all. I feel relieved and bummed out at the same time. ☹😃 My twin from another mother. ---
**Author:** ![Dave.B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9f8e36/32.png) [@Dave.B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave.B)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/10 "2017-05-15T12:37:55Z")
On my birthday last October, I noticed that the little orange Google Maps Street View “pegman” was wearing a party hat. I thought that was pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/11 "2017-05-15T22:18:39Z")
Don’t know much about it, but it’s possible you have an account that is in the Google constellation without realizing it. Do you have a YouTube account? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-google-know-it-was-my-birthday/786588/12 "2017-05-15T23:14:39Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > Don’t know much about it, but it’s possible you have an account that is in the Google constellation without realizing it. Do you have a YouTube account? Yeah, I’m sure there are any number of ways. It just surprised me, which I guess is the whole point.