There Is a Way to Learn Everything Google Knows About an Account

The revelation of how to access personal data stored by Google has left Internet users surprised. The modern digital age has led most people to accept that the devices they use hold extensive information about them, including addresses, phone numbers, and financial details. This awareness has led to the common jokes about devices listening to conversations and generating relevant advertisements. However, those ads are accurate for a reason.

Google Shows Users Their Data

Those who wonder how Google ads seem so accurate can check out how the TikTok user named @yorgoandlea shares a method to uncover the data the search engine uses to target users with ads. In a video, the TikToker demonstrates how to access this information.

@yorgoandlea heads to Google and searches for ‘ad settings Google.’ After signing in, she finds a list displaying her age, gender, and spoken languages. The site also suggests interests like ‘architecture’ and ‘audio equipment.’ This information can also be accessed through the user’s Google account by selecting ‘Manage,’ then ‘Data and Privacy,’ and finally ‘My Ad Center.’

Google uses various categories to personalize ads, including relationship status, parental status, education, industry, and homeownership. Additionally, Google employs data from its sites and apps to customize users’ experiences based on their general location during use.

Personal Data Can Be Restricted

Many users found it alarming to discover the extent of information Google has stored about them, especially if they couldn’t recall providing it. Some commented on the accuracy of the data, while others noted discrepancies like Google mistakenly categorizing someone as 44+ years of age when they were actually 19.

For those uncomfortable with targeted ads, there is an option to disable them and adjust privacy settings within their Google account. Google clarifies that account information is private, but users can choose to share it or make it visible to others on Google services. The data collected is used to personalize the user experience based on individual settings.

The TikTok video revealed how to access and view the personal data that Google uses to tailor advertisements. This discovery left many users surprised and concerned about the extent of information Google had stored, prompting some to reconsider their privacy settings and ad preferences.