this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2023
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Showerthoughts

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Google Apps are like junk food, bad for your health/privacy, but very good in taste/product otherwise. (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by slyme@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
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Think about it, Google Maps is (I think) the biggest collection of map data and information on locations everywhere around the world, yet I don't want an advertising company knowing that I just went to a fast food place.

YouTube is an endless trove of video content that anyone can contribute to, yet I'd much rather not give an advertiser information on every little interest that I have in video.

It's so bad for you, but it's so good.

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[–] soyagi@yiffit.net -1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but you can use Google Maps without GPS and in Incognito mode, and you can watch YouTube without being logged in and/or not saving your watch history. You're in complete control over the info you give Google. You can fully enjoy their services without the ickyness you described.

[–] elfin8er@lemm.ee 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good thing for Google that they can still track you in a number of other ways.

[–] soyagi@yiffit.net 2 points 1 year ago

Oh, definitely. I know it's an unpopular opinion, but there's room for a middle ground between selling your soul to Google and avoiding their services like the plague.

[–] dedale@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

They can fingerprint your browser and (very) probably your hardware, along with ip, location, and other leaked data, allowing them to reliably identify you whether you're logged in or not.
At this point, it's more of a symbolic protest.