Back to Blog

Personalized Ads Are Losing People’s Trust — Reticle Offers a Different Approach

Personalized Ads Are Losing People’s Trust  — Reticle Offers a Different Approach
Hotspex Media Team

It’s no secret that consumers are growing increasingly wary of personalized advertising. More and more consumers are voicing discomfort with the way digital ads follow them around online.

According to a recent YouGov survey, 54% of Americans say personalized ads make them uncomfortable, and 44% run ad blockers full-time. Even younger audiences, once thought to be more open to targeted content, are pushing back. Privacy concerns have officially gone mainstream.

The Problem With Personalization
The traditional model of digital targeting relies heavily on third-party cookies and behavioural tracking. These methods monitor browsing history, purchase behavior, social media activity, and even physical location. The goal? Build a hyper-detailed profile of a user and serve ads that feel “personal.” The reality? Most people just feel surveilled.

With Chrome walking back plans to block third-party cookies — and antitrust concerns making headlines — the industry is at a turning point. The question isn't just how to target, but whether we're doing it in a way that respects consumers.

Reticle Doesn’t Track You — It Understands You
Our proprietary tool Reticle was built with privacy at its core. It never relied on cookies, tracking pixels, or personally identifiable data. Instead, it uses emotional signals and contextual cues to connect brands with audiences in the moments that matter most — not based on who they are, but how they feel.

Think of it as a smarter, more human approach to advertising:

  • No ‘creepy’ retargeting
  • No invasive surveillance
  • No compromise on performance

A Privacy-Forward Future
Consumers are asking for more control, less tracking, and better transparency. Advertisers are looking for smarter ways to drive results without undermining trust. Reticle is already there.

If you're ready to move into a new era of emotionally intelligent marketing — we’d love to show you how.

Want to Learn More?

Give us a shout and let us know how we can help.

More from the Blog

Curiosity: The Most Underrated Metric in Campaign Effectiveness

Curiosity: The Most Underrated Metric in Campaign Effectiveness

Attention has never been more celebrated. Metrics like viewability, impressions, and engagement dominate conversations about campaign success. ‍While these numbers are all important, attention alone doesn’t guarantee impact. A consumer can watch an ad, scroll past, and take no next step. Without action, all that attention is just noise.‍Curiosity, on the other hand, is a signal that a campaign has truly resonated. 

Read Story
Challenger Brands Don’t Need More Budget, They Need Better Measurement

Challenger Brands Don’t Need More Budget, They Need Better Measurement

In a world where retail media networks are booming and every brand is shouting for attention, it’s easy to assume the solution for growth is simply more spend. But for challenger brands, the reality is different. Outshouting the competition rarely works. What matters more is visibility: understanding what’s actually driving results and having a clear, accurate view of performance.

Read Story
Season of Intent: Turning the Back-to-School Mindset Into Measurable Impact

Season of Intent: Turning the Back-to-School Mindset Into Measurable Impact

Back-to-school is a period of reset. People are actively researching, comparing, and discovering. It’s one of the few times during the year when shopping is not just about fulfilling a need, but about getting organized, upgrading routines, and trying something new. That’s a very specific kind of intent, and for advertisers, it’s gold

Read Story