# If tech firms know me so well, why do they push such useless ads?

A Guardian columnist questions why targeted advertising remains so ineffective, despite companies collecting vast amounts of personal data. The piece critiques the disconnect between data-driven profiling and the poor quality of products and promotions users actually see. It matters because it highlights growing consumer frustration with surveillance-based marketing that fails to deliver relevance.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Business
- [The Guardian Biz](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/06/tech-companies-targeted-marketing-social-media-ads-sales) — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:00:45 GMT