Are your Instagram ads eerily specific? – Let’s talk about that. (upbeat music) – Good Mythical Morning. – Today, we’re gonna be investigating and unsettling digital phenomenon. You’re scrolling Instagram, you come across an ad, and this add is eerily specific to you. And you get this strange feeling that Instagram is spying on you because you can remember googling that specific thing. But Google has nothing to do with Instagram, right? – Well, they’re totally different companies, so yeah, that’s right. I mean, I was googling skylights. – Well, of course you were. – ‘Cause you know, I mean- – You love skylights. – You look up, you see through them, and I wanna do that on the internet. – Yeah, right. – And then I go on Instagram, all of a sudden I’m getting ads for blinds that go on skylights. – Oh, yeah, ’cause you don’t want too much sun. – Well, but what’s Instagram got to do with me and my skylight fetish? – Well, let’s explore that. You see, we do a lot of boopity, boop, boop, boop, research on the internet for this show, but we never really explore how the internet boopity, boop, boop, boop, researches us, until today. It’s time for What Did We Google to Get These Weird Ads? Is Instagram Spying on Us or are We Just Paranoid Dads? – In an interview with “CBS This Morning,” Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said, “We don’t look at your messages. We don’t listen in on your microphone. Doing so would be super problematic for a lot of different reasons. But I recognize you’re not really gonna believe me.” – Well, maybe you could believe him because you actually don’t need to spy in that way to get that information. All you need are cookies. – Cookies. – What’s at work is something called retargeting. When you google something and visit sites, those sites host cookies which are stored in your browser. You know how there’s so many sites that have those pop-up windows for you to accept cookies? Well, cookies is just- – Yes! And that’s happening- – A lot more lately. – Yeah, a lot more. – Now, cookies is just a tastier word for tracking code. – Yeah, so in the Instagram example, advertisers pay Instagram to access your tracking codes and then retarget the same content that you visited on those sites back to you later in hopes that you’ll go ahead and buy the thing that you were looking at earlier. – And those cookies are used to keep track of all of the following: which sites you’re visiting, the amount of time you’re spending on those sites, the links you’re clicking on, what you’re searching about, and even the breathing sounds you’re making while you’re doing it all. What I’m saying is don’t be creeped out, but they know everything about you. – Yeah, so what we did is we asked Mythical crew members to submit themselves and their Google searches and their personal Instagram accounts, wow, they were compliant, to a friendly experiment. And we asked them to Google their own unique, secret phrase many times over, over the course of a few days. That sounds really fun. (chuckles) And then they clicked on the links that came up and explored some of the sites that came up. And we even let them buy some of the stuff for the show, and then they waited, and sure enough, eerily specific retargeted ads started showing up on their Instagram feeds. – Yeah, we creeped out our crew! Now, we’re gonna take a look at some of the ads and the products that crew members got, and then work backwards to see what phrase they were Googling. Closest to guess to the right answer gets a point, and the winner will take home an Instagram advertised product of their choice. – Oh, you mean one of the things that the crew member bought thinking that maybe when the episode was over, they would keep it for themselves? – One of us gets it. – Yeah. – [Stevie] Okay, guys, some of the Mythical crew members have recorded little videos of themselves saying what phrase they have Googled. – So we ask them to make videos too? – [Stevie] Yeah. – Okay. – [Stevie] Of course, they’ve been censored, so it doesn’t give anything away, the answer to you that you’re looking for. So here is your first Mythical crew clip. – Hi, I’m Matt Carney, I am co-executive producer at Mythical. I also used to work at Hot Dog on a Stick. The phrase I googled is (beeps). – [Link] Scandalous. (laughing) – [Stevie] That censoring sound. – I like how Matt’s introducing himself as if we never met him. – Yeah, I like that. – Hi, Matt. – [Stevie] Okay, so after googling that phrase for a couple of days, Matt was advertised the Boyfriend Pillow, which we bought on Amazon for $37.95. What question did the former Hot Dog on a Stick employee, and happily married, Matt Carney, google? – Can I get some of that? – Yeah, you can get some of that Boyfriend Pillow. So it’s just a half of a guy’s torso. – Well, that’s all you need. – This is tough. – [Rhett] Boyfriend Pillow. – You’re googling- – I mean, something comes to mind for me, but… – Okay. – All right, I went with, “Why am I so lonely?” – Really? No, I was like, “What is the healthiest pillow?” (laughing) – Well, this is– – I mean, what is the pillow that is healthiest for your, I don’t know, your spine, is what I mean. – [Stevie] All right, let’s see the uncensored video, shall we? – The phrase I googled is, “Do body pillows make you less lonely?” – [Rhett] Ooh! – Pillow and lonely. So Stevie, you’ve got a call to make there. – Stevie, it’s up to you. – [Stevie] I think it’s gotta go to Rhett, no? Yeah. (bell dings) – That was definitely further out on a limb, and to be that accurate with the word lonely, I’m fine with him getting it. I’m not gonna complain, is what I’m saying. – [Stevie] Okay, so now, you kinda get how the game goes, so are you ready for the next one? – Yes. – Hey, I’m Lucas, the prop master of Mythical, and I googled (beeps). – Man, that sounded so scandalous. – I know. (laughs) – [Stevie] Okay, Lucas was advertised products from Dad Grass, a legal CBD and hemp company, this simulation wooden floor sticker, which we purchased for $25, and this wooden garden bridge from Sam’s Gazebos. What question was Mad Dog Lucas googling? – So there’s a fake floor sticker. – Look at this fake… it’s right here, man. Check it out! – A bridge. – Why would you want your floor to look like blue wood? – Like a six-foot long bridge. And then CBD. – Dad Grass. – Okay. – Oh, gosh, this is tough. – I think I can relate to this. – I was thinking in terms of key words here. – “How do I make my home more relaxing?” – Okay, I’m not that far off. I went with, “Why do I find the feel of wood so soothing?” (crew laughing) – Yeah, there’s two wood- – There’s wood and it’s soothing, – Wood and grass. and it’s feeling. – Definitely relaxing… okay. – [Stevie] You guys are all over it. Let’s see what Lucas has to say. – Hey, I’m Lucas, the prop master of Mythical. And I googled, “If I build a deck, will my dad respect me?” (laughing) – If I build a deck, will my dad respect me? I mean, that’s something you definitely find yourself doing, but I don’t think you normally know that’s the question you’re asking. – How’d you get to CBD with respect and dad? – [Stevie] The brand is Dad Grass. – Oh, yeah. – [Stevie] Yeah. – I don’t think anybody gets a point. – [Stevie] Okay, great, nobody gets a point. (buzzer buzzes) – That’s feels like a split. – [Stevie] That’s excellent news. Let’s just move on to the next clip then. – Okay. – Hi, I’m David Hill, manager of studio operations at Mythical. I googled (beeps). – [Stevie] So David’s ads steered him towards some grooming products. We purchased the Viking Revolution kit for $26.88, and the Newmen Co. beard straightener for $1.00. But what exactly did David google to get the look he’s trying to achieve? – This thing’s hot. – Beard care kit. Wow, I wonder if David really wants this because you might be snagging it up, huh? – I want some beard care kit. – Okay, I got a wild guess. – Okay. – Why don’t you go first? – I think he said- – I think I’ve nailed this one. – “How do I make my beard big and beautiful?” – I totally disagree with that. Because I think he asked, “How do I get my beard to look like Rhett’s, from GMM?” – Okay, all right, well, basically the same thing, right? I mean, who are we kidding? – [Stevie] All right, let’s see what he actually said. – I googled “How to grow a hipster mustache.” (laughing) – [Link] Aw. – [Stevie] I mean, I feel like Link’s a lot closer on this one. – Oh, come on! (Stevie laughs) – [Stevie] How about you both split the point on this one then, so then you at least get some points? (bell dings) – I really thought I had it. – Okay, yeah, it’s just neither one of us got specific enough to deserve the point, so we’ll split it. – Okay, now before we get to the next video, we wanna give you an important update. Now, a few months ago, we urged all of you living in the US to vote like a beast, remember? Go to votelikeabeast.com. We talked about it a lot. And you absolutely came through. We set a goal of 18,000 new voter registrations, and you blew that out of the water by thousands more. – Yes, thanks to everybody for taking that initiative, using our tools, and using your voices. Now, as we promised, we’re gonna reward you with our first ever all-day live stream, right here on the GMM channel. So Thursday, November 19th, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time. There’s gonna be no GMM episode that day, just the live stream, so save the date, however you save dates. – Yeah, we’re gonna have music. We’re gonna have guests that we know you’re gonna love. We’re gonna have some classic GMM games that you’ve been asking for, and other surprises ’cause it’s gonna be all freaking day, non-stop. Plus, it’s gonna benefit a really great charity. More details on that to come, but for now, like Rhett said, mark your calendar or however you do it for Thursday, November 19th, and don’t miss it. – All right, let’s listen to our next crew member. – Hey, I’m Davin. I’m a producer at Mythical. And I googled the phrase (beeps). – Wash your mouth out with soap, Davin. (laughs) – [Stevie] So Davin was in need of a solution to a serious problem when he got these ads for Gold Bond, Rolaid, an online prescription eczema service, Roman. Oh, there was an “and” there. (laughing) – You said Rolaid. You call it Rolaid? – [Stevie] It is Rol… is it? – Rolaids. – [Stevie] Oh, it says Rolaid. Sorry. We purchased Gold Bond for $6.94, and Rolaid Chews, oh, that’s why, Rolaid Chews, Rolaids Chews for $4 on Amazon. What was Davin googling? – Something’s going on with his skin, I’ll tell you that much. Okay, I kinda tried to cover a lot of bases here. – I know, I’m trying to add more words as a way to increase my chances of winning. – That’s smart. All right, I went with, “I got a rash that’s so bad that my stomach hurts.” (laughing) – I said, “Did my stank farts cause my nasty rash?” – Oh, so the other way around? So okay. – Yeah. I think it’s like, man, I think- – What leads what? – I think my farts caused my rash. – [Stevie] Okay, let’s see what Davin googled. – I googled the phrase, “Natural remedy itchy taint.” Don’t ask. (Rhett laughs) – [Stevie] I mean, okay- – Itchy taint? – [Stevie] So looking at- – You talking about the spot in between your and your, and it’s, it’s itching, huh? Oh. – [Stevie] Well, okay, so Link, you had farts in your thing. – Yeah, I did. And farts are near the taint. – Farts come from taint-adjacent, they call that. – [Stevie] So I do feel like this one goes to your team. – And points escalate (bell dings) so I’m in this. – Okay, all right, Link gets the points. – Am I winning? – [Stevie] Let’s see the next one. – Hey, I’m Mythical Chef Josh, and I googled (beeps). Hmm? (laughing) – No clue. Just the little “hmm” does nothing for me. – [Stevie] Josh needed help, and Instagram gave him a personalized star map from the Night Sky IO, a custom crystal picture from ArtPix3D that pains me to read that we paid $188 for, and we have, a weighted stuffed animal for adults with anxiety from Moon Pals, and a flower delivery service, Overnight Flowers. What question did Josh google? – And first of all, he got a personalized- – Holy moly, that’s incredible! – Can you see it? Where do I need to hold it – That is worth… Where you can see it? – That is worth every penny. – And I want that if I have the privilege – It’s freaking Josh’s face. of winning. – And over there it says, “I cook food good.” – [Rhett] That is so incredible. (crew laughing) – He’s gonna be so upset with one of us wins this. (laughing) – ‘Cause we’re definitely taking that. – Okay, so star map and crystals. – He had a problem is that… what was it that you said? – [Stevie] He needed help, and he asked a question. – All right, I said, “How do I convince my hippy dippy, crystal-worshiping girlfriend to take me back?” – You know, we’re close on this ’cause I said, “I want to surprise my girlfriend with the perfect gift. She loves starting at the night sky.” – [Stevie] Okay, let’s see what Josh actually googled. – Hey, I’m Mythical Chef, Josh, and I googled, “What kind of gifts do girls want me to give them?” (Rhett and Link groaning) – Perfect gift. Girl. – You said perfect gift! You got it, man! Dang! (bell dings) Josh, I don’t know if you’re dating or have an ex. I stay out of that. (laughing) – [Stevie] So Rhett, you get to pick any of the gifts that we got. – Oh, I don’t have any… There’s no hesitation. – [Stevie] Okay. (chuckles) – I’m gonna put this right next to my bed, and hopefully, my wife is okay with that. (laughing) Look, it’s almost just like I’m staring right at him. – All right, don’t be too creeped out y’all. Thanks for subscribing and clicking that bell. – You know what time it is. – Hey, guys, I’m Andrew, and I’m a truck driver delivering a load in Buies Creek, North Carolina. And it’s time to spin the Wheel of Mythicality. – Well, look at that! They got trucks in Buies Creek now! – Hometown docking! – Click the top link to watch us play the whisper challenge part two in Good Mythical More. – And to find out where the Wheel of Mythicality is gonna land. – [Rhett] Don’t forget to set your calendars for our all-day GMM live stream on Thursday, November 19th, from 9:00am to 5:00pm Pacific Time. That’s noon to 8:00pm Eastern Time.