Coercive consumerism is a thing; the entire Enlightenment concept of free will may be a thing of the past as our autonomy in consumer choice is eroded in the context of algorithms, Big Tech, and targeted ads.

The use of our data to manipulate us into purchasing something we don't need is a new privacy concern. With big data, the possibilities of shaping people's behavior have become even more comprehensive. Today's online advertising ecosystem runs on data. Companies are tracking you across the web and gathering information that helps them determine which ads are most likely to get you to purchase a product if shown at the right time. Our decisions are influenced by far more forces than we might realize.