[bspammer]

> At one point I had the misfortune to be the target audience for a particular stomach churning ear wax removal add.

So isn’t it possible that your friend had the same misfortune? I assume you were similar ages, same gender, same rough geolocation, likely similar interests. It wouldn’t be surprising that you’d both see the same targeted ad campaign.

[intended]

Nope. Gender/age and interests were different. Also - who has an interest in ear wax removal?

The only reason I was served the ad was because I had an ear infection months before.

Plus this was during covid. So this was the smallest group size permissible and no one else around for miles.

[drdec]

Have you considered it was just proximity? The overlords know you were in proximity with your friend. It is not unreasonable to assume you share interests and would respond to the same ads.