Author Topic: What does Google think you are?  (Read 672 times)

Offline Tamsin

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What does Google think you are?
« on: February 01, 2012, 07:07:29 AM »
If you want to see what Google thinks of YOUR browsing history, go here.

According to Google and my web browser at work (see attached pic), I am 4-10 years younger than I am and a different gender. For the record, I'm 28 and female. Also... I'm the least musical person I know. I get flustered by a harmonica and I got removed from the high school musical chorus to go work on tech crew.

I am curious how this would pan out with my home computers' browser. At work, I'm going to sites for work (like google sites, hospital sites, academic sites, various reference things) or when I am taking break, the SFW sites I like. That'd be:

Girl Genius (webcomic)
Girls with Slingshots (webcomic)
Weregeek (webcomic)
Zeta Channel (hi guys!)
Jezebel (and other Gawker sites)
Salon
GOOD
Reddit (really just TwoXChromosomes)
McSweeney's Internet Tendency
Cracked
Grooveshark

So... I guess using Grooveshark as my way of listening to music at work is skewing it towards musical things. But the rest? 18-24 and male? Huh. Really?
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Offline stargazer2

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2012, 09:31:08 AM »
I did this a few days ago.  If I recall correctly, I'm a 25-30 (or wherever the demographic ends, but short of my actual age) male.  This somewhat surprises me, because I've actually spent a considerable amount of time shopping for clothes and shoes, including searching for alternative sites to buy plus-sized clothes, not to mention jewelry, as well as looking up information on endometriosis and procedures for endo, which tends to end up with search terms like "fertility specialists" and "gynecological surgeon".  It sort of makes me wonder what criteria are needed to determine I'm female.

Offline Tamsin

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2012, 10:11:23 AM »
Yeah, I bought knitting supplies and spend a lot of lunch breaks reading feministy articles... but also things with a tech or scifi/fantasy topic. I am really curious to see how my home computer's browser has been pegged.
For further information, consult your pineal gland.
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Offline phobos

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2012, 10:37:09 AM »
Male, London, 18-24, likes comics and toys.

It's fairly accurate, except I'm actually 30. This is on my laptop; my home machine probably has more history to it.
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Offline MetaCortex

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2012, 01:27:44 PM »
Everything is accurate for me.
If cows could talk I would eat them even more because they'd go around saying stupid shit all the time. Cows are dumb. -fixer

Offline Narcissa

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2012, 01:55:19 PM »
Interests: television, pop music, and pets.
Age: 18-24
Gender: Male
(avatar image © Michael Holden)

Offline Bunner_Redux

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2012, 02:01:50 PM »
Well. This all depends on how recently I've cleared by browsing history.... :-$
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Offline Tamsin

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2012, 02:14:09 PM »
Doesn't it always, Bun-bun? ;)
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Offline Crystal

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2012, 04:41:09 PM »
hahaha Age is off by nearly a decade and the gender is wrong. 


Your categories
Below you can review a summary of the interests and inferred demographics that Google has associated with your cookie. You can remove or edit your categories at any time.
Games - Online Games - Massive Multiplayer
Online Communities - Photo & Video Sharing - Photo & Image Sharing
Shopping


Your demographics
We infer your age and gender based on the websites you've visited. You can remove or edit these at any time.
Age: 18-24
Gender: Male
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Offline Jemini

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2012, 05:23:14 PM »
Quote
Below you can review a summary of the interests and inferred demographics that Google has associated with your cookie. You can remove or edit your categories at any time.
Arts & Entertainment - Comics & Animation - Comics
Arts & Entertainment - Music & Audio
Games - Computer & Video Games - Strategy Games
Games - Online Games - Massive Multiplayer
Games - Roleplaying Games
People & Society - Subcultures & Niche Interests - Science Fiction & Fantasy
Pets & Animals - Pets - Rabbits & Rodents
Shopping - Apparel

We infer your age and gender based on the websites you've visited. You can remove or edit these at any time.
Age: 18-24
Gender: Male

Oooh, so close. I'm a 28 year old female

Offline Narcissa

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2012, 06:27:11 PM »
 :o

Google thinks everyone on the internet is male!

 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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Offline Bunner_Redux

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2012, 06:39:55 PM »
Well, duh. Rule #3 of the Internets: There are no girls on the internets.
The Googles never lies.
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Offline Norq

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2012, 07:03:48 PM »
Google had no idea who I am.  Absolutely none.

I don't exist!
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Offline sporkalicious

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2012, 08:19:38 PM »
Arts & Entertainment - Humor
Arts & Entertainment - Music & Audio
Arts & Entertainment - Visual Art & Design - Photographic & Digital Arts
Business & Industrial
Games
Online Communities - Photo & Video Sharing - Photo & Image Sharing
Science - Biological Sciences - Anatomy
Shopping - Toys


Your demographics
We infer your age and gender based on the websites you've visited. You can remove or edit these at any time.
Age: 18-24
Gender: Male
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Online S_C

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2012, 01:54:24 AM »
Quote from: Chrome
Your categories
Business & Industrial - Small Business - MLM & Business Opportunities
Finance - Credit & Lending
Finance - Credit & Lending - Credit Cards
Finance - Insurance
Games - Computer & Video Games - Casual Games
Games - Online Games - Massive Multiplayer
Home & Garden - Home Improvement
People & Society
Travel - Air Travel
World Localities - Oceania - Australia - Victoria (AU) - Melbourne

Your demographics
Age: 18-24
Gender: Male

Quote from: Firefox
Your categories
Business & Industrial - Industrial Materials & Equipment
Business & Industrial - Manufacturing - Factory Automation
Home & Garden - Domestic Services - Cleaning Supplies & Services
Home & Garden - Home Furnishings
Shopping - Apparel - Clothing Accessories - Watches
Shopping - Apparel - Eyewear

Your demographics
Age: 35-44
Gender: Female

Quote from: IE

Your categories
Arts & Entertainment - Music & Audio - World Music - East Asian Music
Business & Industrial
Home & Garden - Domestic Services - Cleaning Supplies & Services
Home & Garden - Home Improvement
Shopping
Travel - Air Travel
World Localities - Oceania - Australia - Victoria (AU) - Melbourne

Your demographics
Age: 25-34
Gender: Female

Quote from: Safari
Your categories
Arts & Entertainment - TV & Video - TV Guides & Reference
Autos & Vehicles - Vehicle Shopping
Finance - Credit & Lending
Games - Puzzles & Brainteasers
Online Communities - Dating & Personals
Science - Biological Sciences - Flora & Fauna

Your demographics
Age: 18-24
Gender: Female


...Uncanny.
 ;)
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Offline Narcissa

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2012, 02:00:56 AM »
:o

Google thinks everyone on the internet is male!

 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE USING CHROME.

conspiracy!
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Offline EnsoMu

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2012, 03:58:02 AM »
Cookies are disabled

Guess my use of Adblock, Ghostery, and a few other have come in handy.

Offline Cytherea

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2012, 11:19:22 AM »
"You've opted out, but you can opt in at any time."

I opted out a very, very long time ago.

That said, Spokeo thinks Darth'n'I are both male and unmarried, despite knowing we live together. Not sure if it thinks we're gay or just roommates.

Or, rather, it DID think so, before I opted out there, too. :P

Offline Gudy

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2012, 02:15:54 PM »
Cookies are disabled

Guess my use of Adblock, Ghostery, and a few other have come in handy.
I was wondering why Google would wrongly claim that I had cookies disabled. But yeah, that's probably Adblock Plus's doing.
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Offline etphonehome

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Re: What does Google think you are?
« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2012, 03:37:51 PM »
It thinks I'm a 65+ year old male. One of those is correct, the other is way off.
My 2¢.