--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Micro-targeting is the ability for a…" description: "\"Micro-targeting is the ability for a campaign to profile you, to know much more about you than you know about it, and then to choose exactly what to sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/cathy-o-neil-11478_ability_micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-cam_3073408.jpg" --- # Micro-targeting is the ability for a campaign to profile… ![“Micro-targeting is the ability for a campaign to profile you, to know much more about you than you know about it, and then to choose exactly what to show you.” quote by Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/cathy-o-neil-11478_ability_micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-cam_3073408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/cathy-o-neil-11478_ability_micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-cam_3073408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/cathy-o-neil-11478_ability_micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-cam_3073408.jpg) > “Micro-targeting is the ability for a campaign to profile you, to know much more about you than you know about it, and then to choose exactly what to show you.” [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Micro‑targeting profiles individuals deeply, then tailors content precisely. **In simple terms:** Data lets advertisers know you better than you know yourself. Key Takeaway Be aware of personalized media influence. Themes privacy data advertising Mood cautious critical Type analytical informative When to use this quote - social media use - political campaigns - online shopping - news consumption Key Concepts algorithmic bias surveillance capitalism Questions to Reflect On - How does targeted content shape your choices? - What safeguards protect your data? A Different Perspective Over‑personalization can reinforce echo chambers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Campaign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaign/) [Campaign Profile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaign-profile-5209713/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Micro Targeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/micro-targeting-3883171/) [Profile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profile/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Targeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/targeting/) [Targeting Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/targeting-ability-5209712/) ## Related quotes > [Companies have long gathered data to break down their customer base into specific segments. Now political parties have become adept at micro-targeting, too, using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/companies-have-long-gathered-data-to-break-down-their-customer-base/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [“In short, WMDs are targeting us all. And they’ll continue to multiply, sowing injustice, until we take steps to stop them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/in-short-wmds-are-targeting-us-all-and-they-ll-continue-to-multiply/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [An office occupation is another example as not only douse it disrupt the activities of the organization it also can raise the media profile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edwards/an-office-occupation-is-another-example-as-not-only-douse-it-disrupt/) [Ben Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edwards/) > [To me extremism is targeting endangered whales in a whale sanctuary in violation of a moratorium. That, to me, is extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/to-me-extremism-is-targeting-endangered-whales-in-a-whale-sanctuary/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [“Selling without targeting is like sailing without a compass. Think before you invest more time in pursuing the lead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timi-nadela/selling-without-targeting-is-like-sailing-without-a-compass-think/) [Timi Nadela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timi-nadela/) > [ISIS targeting the U.S. military is like a sheep targeting a lion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-meyer/isis-targeting-the-u-s-military-is-like-a-sheep-targeting-a-lion/) [Dakota Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-meyer/) > [Alinsky's 1971 book, 'Rules for Radicals,' is a favorite of the Obamas. Michele Obama quoted it at the Democratic Convention. One Alinsky tactic is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/alinsky-s-1971-book-rules-for-radicals-is-a-favorite-of-the-obamas/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [In many cases, Obama's exercise of authoritarian power is criminal. His executive branch is responsible for violations of the Arms Export Control Act in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/in-many-cases-obama-s-exercise-of-authoritarian-power-is-criminal-his/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Everyone dies, and before that, most people eventually lose some of their faculties. So some people worry that as marketers get better at targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/everyone-dies-and-before-that-most-people-eventually-lose-some-of/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Today, corruption has won and justice has lost. I brought corruption cases in good faith involving powerful people, and the political and legal establishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-thomas/today-corruption-has-won-and-justice-has-lost-i-brought-corruption/) [Andrew Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-thomas/) > ['Targeting' is polite ads-speak for the data levers that Facebook exposes to advertisers, allowing that predatory lot to dissect the user base - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/targeting-is-polite-ads-speak-for-the-data-levers-that-facebook/) [Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/) > [These same people who accuse Planned Parenthood of 'targeting' African-American children, they care about you only while you're in the womb. The minute you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-moore/these-same-people-who-accuse-planned-parenthood-of-targeting-african/) [Gwen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-moore/) > [Counterterrorism analysts have known for years that al Qaeda prepares for attacks with elaborate 'targeting packages' of photographs and notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/counterterrorism-analysts-have-known-for-years-that-al-qaeda-prepares/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [We have a rise of extremism because we need to give a sense that we are targeting some of the deeper problems in Greece,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/we-have-a-rise-of-extremism-because-we-need-to-give-a-sense-that-we/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [They were targeting those people I referred to as 'little Eichmanns.' These were legitimate targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-churchill/they-were-targeting-those-people-i-referred-to-as-little-eichmanns/) [Ward Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-churchill/) ## More by Cathy O'Neil > [ With recidivism algorithms, for example, I worry about racist outcomes. With personality tests \[for hiring\], I worry about filtering out people with mental health… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/with-recidivism-algorithms-for-example-i-worry-about-racist-outcomes/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“They draw statistical correlations between a person’s zip code or language patterns and her potential to pay back a loan or handle a job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/they-draw-statistical-correlations-between-a-person-s-zip-code-or/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [I don't think anybody's ever notified that they were sentenced to an extra two years because their recidivism score had been high, or notified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-don-t-think-anybody-s-ever-notified-that-they-were-sentenced-to-an/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The national conversation around white entitlement, around institutionalized racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, I think, came about in large part because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-national-conversation-around-white-entitlement-around/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“model’s blind spots reflect the judgments and priorities of its creators. While the choices in Google Maps and avionics software appear cut and dried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/model-s-blind-spots-reflect-the-judgments-and-priorities-of-its/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [I would argue that one of the major problems with our blind trust in algorithms is that we can propagate discriminatory patterns without acknowledging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/i-would-argue-that-one-of-the-major-problems-with-our-blind-trust-in/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [We've learned our lesson with finance because they made a huge goddamn explosion that almost shut down the world. But the thing I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/we-ve-learned-our-lesson-with-finance-because-they-made-a-huge/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“Employers, for example, are increasingly using credit scores to evaluate potential hires. Those who pay their bills promptly, the thinking goes, are more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/employers-for-example-are-increasingly-using-credit-scores-to/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [Google is so big you have no idea what a given person does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/google-is-so-big-you-have-no-idea-what-a-given-person-does/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [It's a standard thing you hear from startup people - that their product is somehow improving the world. And if you follow the reasoning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/it-s-a-standard-thing-you-hear-from-startup-people-that-their-product/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The NSA buys data from private companies, so the private companies are the source of all this stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-nsa-buys-data-from-private-companies-so-the-private-companies-are/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“The algorithms would make sure that those deemed losers would remain that way. A lucky minority would gain ever more control over the data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-algorithms-would-make-sure-that-those-deemed-losers-would-remain/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [“As we’ve seen, they (the companies) routinely reject applicants on the basis of credit scores and personality tests. Health scores represent a natural—and frightening—next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/as-we-ve-seen-they-the-companies-routinely-reject-applicants-on-the/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [We don't let a car company just throw out a car and start driving it around without checking that the wheels are fastened on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/we-don-t-let-a-car-company-just-throw-out-a-car-and-start-driving-it/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [The public trusts big data way too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-public-trusts-big-data-way-too-much/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) [Explore all 59 Cathy O'Neil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Micro-targeting is the ability for a campaign to profile you, to know much more about you than you know about it, and then to choose exactly what to show you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cathy O'Neil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-campaign-to-profile-you-to-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-campaign-to-profile-you-to-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/cathy-o-neil-11478_ability_micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-cam_3073408.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/cathy-o-neil-11478_ability_micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-cam_3073408.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/cathy-o-neil-11478_ability_micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-cam_3073408.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Micro-targeting is the ability for a campaign to profile you, to know much more about you than you know…” — Cathy O'Neil", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cathy O'Neil", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Micro-targeting is the ability for a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-campaign-to-profile-you-to-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/micro-targeting-is-the-ability-for-a-campaign-to-profile-you-to-know/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```