Personalization at Scale: How Far Is Too Far?

[Fflmanno]

So here’s something weird—last week I looked up a pair of hiking boots, and the next day an app I use for meditation suggested “gear for peaceful trails.” That felt too specific. I’m all for personalization, but sometimes it creeps me out. Where’s the line for you guys?

[palmariums]

"Oh yeah, I’ve had that happen too! A few months ago, I was chatting about dog food with a friend—literally just talking—and ads for premium kibble showed up later that night. It’s cool when personalization feels helpful, but it crosses into uncomfortable when it feels like someone’s always listening.

I came across this breakdown on how businesses use modern tools to find that balance: https://www.brimco.io/digital-marketing/trends-in-customer-service-technology/. It talks about using tech to support—not stalk—the customer.

In my own shop, we try to personalize through behaviors on our site only. No outside data scraping. Customers seem to trust that more."

[BugMeNot]

"This thread got me thinking, even though it’s not really my field. I mostly deal with logistics, but I’ve noticed more platforms I use offering super tailored dashboards or quick suggestions that actually save me time. I never asked for them, but I also never felt like it was invasive.

Guess it depends on the context. Some people love when tech “knows them,” others just want a basic, no-frills experience. Feels like businesses have to walk a fine line no matter what."