Sometimes it feels like our phones have taken over our moms’ role. Remember how your mom always knew you were hungry before you even said a word? Now your phone does the job, but it doesn’t bring you food; it overwhelms you with ads. Feeling hungry for biryani at midnight? A Zomato notification is ready for you. Thinking about going on a diet? Sorry, your feed will be filled with tempting chocolate cakes. The moment you search “how to lose belly fat,” Instagram will remind you about gyms, protein powders, and online workout plans.
It’s not magic. An army of algorithms works behind the scenes, tracking every scroll, click, and search. Each time you look up restaurants or pause on a food video, the system takes notice: this person loves food. Then, like a waiter who never leaves your side, the internet keeps serving you ads when you’re most likely to crave them.
It doesn’t end there. Your GPS acts as a matchmaker too. Walk past a coffee shop? Suddenly, your phone suggests a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free Cappuccino” nearby. Lunchtime? The food delivery app reminds you of a burger deal. Thanks to artificial intelligence, your phone doesn’t just know you’re hungry; it sometimes anticipates what you’ll crave before you even realize it.
Should we laugh or worry? Maybe a bit of both. On the positive side, it’s handy. You find great restaurants, offers, and deals you might have missed otherwise. On the negative side, it highlights how much of your online life is tracked. Every search, every location, and every late-night craving you thought was private are all part of your digital footprint, and marketers love to use it.
So the next time you see a pizza ad just before lunch, don’t be surprised. Just smile at the absurdity, maybe grab the discount if it’s good, and remember this: it’s not magic; it’s marketing. Your phone doesn’t just know you’re hungry; it knows exactly what you’re hungry for.