A month ago, while hanging out with friends, someone casually mentioned their belief that tech companies or social media apps are listening to our conversations and reading our messages. To my surprise, everyone agreed. Except me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not like I completely dismiss the idea. Maybe they are listening. But I’ve never seen hard evidence beyond cases of people claiming to see ads for products shortly after discussing them. And yes, it has happened to me too. But there’s a logical explanation, which I’ll get to.
I tried to explain my perspective, but of course, as the inarticulate person that I am, I just couldn’t articulate it well. My words were all over the place, I found myself repeating the same points, stammering and using analogies that perhaps didn’t fit the argument properly. The conversation went back and forth, and I left feeling frustrated, knowing I hadn’t effectively communicated my thoughts. It something I’m actively trying to improve. To be clear, concise, and compelling when I speak. After all, what’s the point of talking if you can’t convey your message and be sure that the recipient understands it as you intended?
That’s why I’m writing this blog. I’ve organized my thoughts, done some extra research, and I’m ready to lay out my case more effectively. So, let’s dive into the question:
Are They Really Listening?
The idea that tech companies or social media apps might be eavesdropping on our conversations has been around for probably as long as the internet itself. Okay maybe that’s a stretch, but you get the point, it’s not something new.
If you look through the internet, you’ll find countless videos, tweets, and Reddit threads insisting that it’s true. On the surface, It’s very believable—especially for for non-technical users who aren’t deeply familiar with how data collection and online advertising work.
But here’s the thing: when you dig deeper, you’ll find no concrete evidence to support these claims. Of course, some might use the Carl Sagan quote to counter.
Absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence
Carl Sagan
True. However, even though I love this quote so much, the absence of evidence also does not make a claim true. I mean, at the end of the day, it leaves us in a realm of speculation.
So, why do I believe they aren’t listening? Well based on my little technical knowledge, extra research, and even legal statements made by these companies, the claim doesn’t hold up.
Why It Feels Like They’re Listening
My key points boils down to the following:
- Predictive Analysis
- Ultrasonic Tracking
- Reticular Activating System
- Confirmation Bias
- Legal Accountability
1. Predictive Analysis
These companies have access to vast amounts of data. Keep in mind these data isn’t just your browser history, or contact list or current location. it’s more sophisticated than that. It include usage patterns, cookies, habits. the time you open an app, how long you spend on the app. when you sleep, when you wake up, and so much more.
There are large corporations with PHDs in psychology and best data engineers and scientist, who are well experience with how humans think, how we react to certain things, how certain individuals think. With their knowledge, they know how to work on your data to get very accurate predictions about you.
They put in a lot of resource and money into creating sophisticated machine learning algorithms which they use to create detailed profiles to predict what you might want. These algorithms are incredibly accurate, sometimes predicting needs you haven’t consciously realized yet. It’s not magic; it’s math and psychology at work.
You might find it difficult to believe, but it’s true. As journalist Bill Dedman said:
History is the best guide to the future.
These social media companies understand this, so they use your data history to anticipate your next move with startling precision. Scary, right?
Now I know the next thing you might say, is – “that’s crazy, there’s no way they can create such a thing”, “how could they possible predict what we need?”
Well with the amount of precise data they have on you, it’s more than enough. The next point will explain another technique that “some” companies use to gain more insights about you.
2. Ultrasonic Tracking
Some firms use a technique called audio-based tracking or ultrasonic tracking, embedding imperceptible sounds in apps or websites. These sounds can be picked up by nearby devices, linking your behaviors across platforms.
How It Works:
- High-frequency sounds (typically above 18 kHz, beyond human hearing) are emitted from one device, such as a computer or TV.
- Other nearby devices, like smartphones or tablets with microphones, can pick up these sounds. When a device detects the signal, it may send data (like location or user ID) to a server.
- This process allows advertisers or companies to track a user across multiple devices, gaining a detailed view of their behavior, such as which sites they visit, what ads they see, or even their physical location.
Why It’s Controversial: This often happens without user consent, raising serious privacy concerns.
While this might seem invasive, it’s not the same as recording your conversations. It’s about connecting the dots from data you already share.
These techniques helps the media giants gain even more accurate data about you, helping them to show you ads accurately.
Surely now you are beginning to see the picture. Let’s move on to the next point.
3. Reticular Activating System (RAS):
Have you ever heard of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon? When you learn about something new, you suddenly start noticing it everywhere. This phenomenon place a role in how we percieve ads.
You might have just discussed about a product with someone, and suddenly you’ll start seeing the ads for that product. It’s not because they listend to your converstation; it’s just that your brain starts noticing related ads that were likely already there, or already anticipated for you before you realized. Do you get what I mean?
There are other times when you see ads that you don’t need. Those times you simply just scroll past it or ignore it. But when it something you need you brain is quick to notice it and then you think these guys must have been listening.
This is a great way to segue into my other point, which is Confirmation Bias.
4. Confirmation Bias:
If you believe your phone is listening, you’ll naturally pay attention to moments that seem to confirm it and dismiss any other thing that doesn’t confirm your belief. It’s human nature. You ignore the times that you see ads that don’t apply to you but take notes of only the times it applies to you.
This bias can reinforce the illusion without actual proof.
5. Legal Accountability
Privacy is a big deal today, and companies have faced lawsuits over data misuse. Yet, despite numerous cases, there’s no solid evidence of major tech firms secretly recording conversations. If they were doing this, whistleblowers or legal investigations would likely have exposed them by now.
Even Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, frequently embroiled in privacy scandals, have never been definitively accused of eavesdropping on users’ conversations.
Can They Read Our Messages?
Well it depends on the messaging platform. WhatsApp, for example, uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE), meaning not even WhatsApp can read your messages. Other platforms like Telegram and Signal also implement E2EE.
So the answer is no—thanks to end-to-end encryption. Other platforms without such encryption might have access to your chats, but that’s stated in their terms and conditions.
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a security method where data is encrypted on the sender’s device, remains encrypted throughout transmission, and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient on their device, meaning no third party, including the service provider, can access the information during transit; essentially guaranteeing privacy in communication between two users only.
The Real Threat: Bad Actors
Let’s not confuse things. While major tech companies or social media apps might not be listening, bad actors might. Hackers, malicious apps, or even government agencies can exploit vulnerabilities to eavesdrop. But these aren’t the companies themselves—they’re external threats. It’s important to understand that and take precautions to protect your data.
Conclusion
The idea of tech companies listening to us is compelling but unfounded. Instead, it’s the sophisticated use of data, algorithms, and psychology that creates the illusion. Understanding how this works can demystify the process and, hopefully, put some of these fears to rest.
So, relax. Your phone probably isn’t listening—it’s just scarily good at predicting.