How Does that Youtube Ad Know You’re Gay?

Short answer: It’s the cookies and not the chocolate chip kind.

Long answer: Lou Montulli built cookies to guarantee the internet could have memory, where websites could remember what page you were on previously, how many times you had been to the page, and what you were looking at.

How does that equal you getting ads with two moms taking their kids to school? As cookies and digital data developed, websites were not just able to track your movements on their websites, but share that information with others! Suddenly, your favorite Queer digital magazine isn't just remembering the last article you read, but they’re sharing what you read about with youtube. There, youtube ads that feature queer storylines wind up in ads on your laptop!

Is it scary? A little.

Is it ethical? That is up for debate.

For more information on cookies, check out this youtube video by Vox.

You can find Betty at @Realtalkbetty on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok