While there are multiple steps and items that can be combined together in your example, it does reinforce why I make sure to use cash for some transactions. I really don't want my ad targeting profile to change to "likely has children" when I buy things for my nieces and nephews.

A few years back there was the case where Target was using mailed ads specific to the profile they'd built for the recipient, and a man went in angry about the pregnancy stuff being advertised to his daughter. He went into the store outraged. Turns out, she actually was pregnant and hadn't yet told her father.

Ever since then, I've been more conscious of my purchasing patterns. I'm sure there are still technological advancements to track cash transactions, but it at least makes it more difficult.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-targ...