# How does the WorldofWatches dot com ad appear on so many damn pages? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-worldofwatches-dot-com-ad-appear-on-so-many-damn-pages/584356 "2011-06-05T01:21:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-worldofwatches-dot-com-ad-appear-on-so-many-damn-pages/584356/1 "2011-06-05T01:21:26Z")
They’re driving me nuts. What’s the ad-server technology? What are the contracts like between web publisher, end website (watch store), and, presumably, ad server? It just occurred to me that maybe that ad follows me like white on rice because I recently went through a spate of watch buying. That would be spooky. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-worldofwatches-dot-com-ad-appear-on-so-many-damn-pages/584356/2 "2011-06-05T01:59:46Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > They’re driving me nuts. What’s the ad-server technology? What are the contracts like between web publisher, end website (watch store), and, presumably, ad server? > > It just occurred to me that maybe that ad follows me like white on rice because I recently went through a spate of watch buying. That would be spooky. You’re not imagining, many banner ads are now targeted based on your browsing. A couple of weeks ago I bought a pair of Original Penguin Shoes from [DSW.com](http://DSW.com). For the last week, every day, ads for OP shoes on Slate. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-worldofwatches-dot-com-ad-appear-on-so-many-damn-pages/584356/3 "2011-06-05T03:13:27Z")
That is what modern web technology combined with marketing does these days. Your spooky guess is the right one. Massive databases really are following you all around everywhere from social networking sites to here and tracking what you have bought and the types of things you are likely to buy. It is very targeted and personal. The technology to make that happen is just now coming to maturity so you will notice it more and more as time goes on but they have been building data for years on you and everyone else. There have been a number of media reports on it recently and its implications. If you somehow don’t believe how targeted it is, pay close attention to the ads you get on your own computer and then look at the ads that you get when you use someone else’s computer who is very different from you. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-worldofwatches-dot-com-ad-appear-on-so-many-damn-pages/584356/4 "2011-06-05T15:47:05Z")
If you want it to stop, clear out your cookies. But make sure you also clear out your [Flash Cookies](http://www.ghacks.net/2007/05/04/flash-cookies-explained/) too (which can be done, but is not nearly as easy). Of course, the side effect will be that you will have to reestablish your preferences at other sites you use. For instance, once the cookie from the Dope is cleared, you will probably no longer be logged on here automatically, although once you do log on manually again the cookie should be re-established and it will be automatic until you decide to clear cookies again. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-worldofwatches-dot-com-ad-appear-on-so-many-damn-pages/584356/5 "2011-06-06T05:18:42Z")
Thank you all so much. It is really really creepy such micro-demographics. It still interests me the cost/benefits of the companies involved. Sheesh, imagine what Government agencies can do! On the Flash cookies page kindly referred to me by **njtt** , one of the responses provides the way to get to those babies in Macs. Thanks again. Leo