Hi there! I like to listen to the “Slightly something else” podcast. Although it is gaming-related, they have these ad-segments that have some kind of targetting, as it is always in the language from where I’ve downloaded the episone.

Yesterday I was really surprised that the ad seemed very well targeted, because it has been referencing a very specific topic concerning my flatmates and me that doesn’t have anything to do with gaming.

My first theory was that my IP was correlated with search terms my partner googled in my home IP (I search with searxng). But then I realized that I’ve subscribed to another podcast related to the advertised topic. (also: the episode with the advertisements was downloaded via mobile network)

So… Apparently, spotify (where slightly something else is hosted via anchor.fm) analyzes the podcasts I subscribe to via rss feed. Is there any way how I can avoid being profiled? Is this the reason why I’d start using a commercial VPN?

Edit: I’d like to reply to your comments, but my lemmy instance won’t display them correctly. So I’ll try to answer here: I’m already using Antennapod with rss feeds for download. That’s why I was so suprised and pissed that the ad was so obviously targeted.

  • Red Wizard 🪄@lemmygrad.ml
    5·
    1 year ago

    If you use Spotify as your podcast app, a VPN isn’t going to protect you. You should look for a FOSS Podcast app, especially if you subscribe to most of your podcasts via RSS.

    Then the VPN layer would kick in, allowing you to download them anonymously.

    • Stantana@lemmy.sambands.netEnglish
      31·
      1 year ago

      Spotify isn’t a podcast app. As far as I know it doesn’t support adding podcasts. They offer a lot of audio releases on their closed platform, often identical to the podcast episodes I subscribe to. But it’s not a podcast app.

      I won’t change my definition of what a podcast is just because some profit-hungry companies want to pervert the term to fit their closed ecosystems.

      • Red Wizard 🪄@lemmygrad.ml
        2·
        1 year ago

        Spotify has podcasts, but I don’t use it for that, so when I read “analyzes the RSS feeds I subscribe to” I imagine they’re talking about through Spotify since that is the root of the conversation.

        • Stantana@lemmy.sambands.netEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Spotify doesn’t have podcasts and does not support podcasts either.

          I just checked https://community.spotify.com/t5/Live-Ideas/All-Platforms-Podcasts-Add-Podcasts-from-RSS-URL-for-Patreon-and/idc-p/4868213#M187867 and it’s status is “Not Right Now”.

          There’s even tutorials for how one submits a podcast feed to Spotify to have the stream converted from a podcast feed to a Spotify product.

          If you want to call that a “podcast” I can’t stop you, but I do think you’re diluting the meaning of the word on behalf of corporate interests.

          Edit: But you’re right regarding the probability that Spotify is targeting OP, somehow must have missed that - That’s why I made a distinction between the publisher and the platform in a different post since it was unclear to me.