Yahoo! Knows You - and They're Selling That to Others

Yahoo!'s latest advertising "innovation" is something called "SmartAds". Basically, it is an ad template that has a few blanks to be filled in based on the user's geographic location and various other demographics collected by Yahoo!.

I have to admit, as a writer this "fill in the blanks" ad methodology intrigues me. As a web user, it appalls me.

I know, I know, to keep things like Yahoo! Groups free to users they have to sell advertising. To more effectively sell advertising they have to tell advertisers who hangs out where in order to find a target audience. It doesn't mean I have to like it, though.

I'm off to search for skydiving lessons, sushi, and sword fighting instructors, just to confuse the SmartAds.