I Caught Digg With Their Hand In My Cookie Jar
I was having problems with my phone system, so I did a search on Google to find a multi-line phone. After looking at several products I decided to compare prices for the AT&T 1070 phone. I did a search for the 1070, where I went to nextag to compare prices.
I ended up purchasing a Panasonic instead. Anyway, later that evening I was at Digg and saw a very, very targeted ad from Digg.
If you take a closer look at the ad, it appears to have been constructed on the fly. It had a background image that probably appears on all nextag advertisements. However, the three products featured on the ad were specific to the 1070 search I had done earlier in the evening.
Digg is either an affiliate of NexTag or NexTag is advertising on their site directly, however it is apparent from this ad that Digg is grabbing and monitoring its users cookies or is allowing advertisers to do so.
Last time I checked the At&T 1070 is not a “Top Product” and the ROI on mass marketing the product to a Digg audience would be very low. There are three possible explanations.
1. Digg is digging through user’s cookie history for Google searches
In an effort to deliver more targeted ads, making them more profitable, Digg may be requesting cookies deposited by Google. However, I think this is unlikely because I believe Google keeps search records in their system and simply uses the cookie to identify the user. All though it is possible to grab a user’s browser history, it requires hacking and is serious invasion of privacy. I don’t think Digg would take that risk.
2. Digg has partnerships with certain advertisers and is looking for cookies related to them
Do you like to shop at Amazon.com or Ebay? Digg might know about that. When you visit a site they typically leave behind a cookie containing certain information. Digg could request those cookies and see what stores you prefer. A nice way to provide a targeted ad.
3. It was Nextag’s turn anyway and they used a browser side script
Nextag may have been using javascript in the ad to see if they had set a cookie in my browser recently. It is possible, however it is unlikely. It is much more likely that the cookie was requested on the server side and the ad delivered then.
If Digg is monitoring Cookies, are they storing the data? Do they keep a log of all the stores and major places that I visit in their database? Heck, they are starting to sound like Google.
I do not have the Digg toolbar installed on my browser. However, if they are collecting cookie data in the above fashion, I wonder what data they are storing on their toolbar users?
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Digg isn’t doing anything here other than allowing the ads to exist. It’s all Nextag and the retargeting advertiser that they use. The cookie’ing happens at Nextag and the 3rd party retargetters use that cookie to re-advertise the search query at Nextag. Digg has no privacy information, but Nextag and its retagetter does.
@Hyun, you seem pretty convinced? A re-targeter is a possibility, but I thought Digg ran their own ad network? I wish I could be as convinced as you.
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i can’t believe
Really it is a great blog. Thank you for sharing with us.
I really like your way of writing, I retweeted it. By the way hope so Digg doesnot turn out to be the next google in infringing our privacy
.-= Forex Business Review´s last blog ..5 Money Management Tips for Your trading =-.
Maybe it was just coincidence? Why should digg eat cookies – they have far too many calories…
I’m really enjoying your blog. Keep up the great work!
.-= moneyman1´s last blog ..What percentage will be taken from my paycheck in a garnishment? =-.
I wouldn’t doubt if digg was doing something like this. While they are very popular, they also have some very shady tactics. I stopped using digg when they implemented the toolbar system.
Frankly, it’s a site that is gamed by a few that get paid big bucks, and if you don’t want to get involved in the ‘circle jerk’, then you aren’t welcome. I use reddit instead.
.-= Ed @ Natural Health´s last blog ..Is Agave Nectar Safe? =-.
Quite shocked at the moment. Never knew Digg would do something like that. Have you contacted Digg about it. What did they have to say about it. Cheers.
Digg really helps. But I don’t like to use it.
.-= Benjamin@forex signals´s last blog ..Elliott Wave Theory Truth =-.
I like the fact that coockies get some flak, regardless of the intent because it can oneday be used in a sinister way against us. As long as we keep them on their toes, we are safer.
.-= Aaron@Business Phone Service´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
I also thought that digg ran their own ad network? Hmm, but the retargeting done by nextags is definately a plausible explanation. The way I see it, there is no way that ad could have been a coincidence as other posters have suggested. It’s a sneaky tactic either way…
.-= Barbara@84 Inch Shower Curtain´s last blog .. =-.
Wow, this is pretty cool from a marketing standpoint, and kind of alarming from a privacy standpoint. It’s definitely not Digg’s doing though, it’s the cookie-based retargeting being done by NexTag. I bet other advertiser networks are doing this as well.
Retargeting has the potential to really catch on… From an advertiser’s perspective, you can place more relevant ads in front of an audience that’s already interested in what you have to offer. From a consumer’s perspective, you can benefit from discounts and promotions that are displayed on retargeted banners. retargeting truly is a win-win.