I tend to look at this issue in a different light, however.  I knowingly trade my personal information, and perform free digital labor, for convenience online. I know that I can delete my cookies to stop certain advertising, and even track any software that is tracking my internet usage and block them.  But when I do that, google does not remember that I have to look up the phone number to that restaurant every time, and autofill the search box after 2 letters.  And I have to fully type in "washingtonpost.com" or else go to the favorites bar to find it.  It seems petty, but after fully typing 3 or 4 websites, I am begging for my cookies back.

I also sometimes take additional time to give information to a for-profit entity in order to better my experience.  I love Amazon.com.  It is like a close friend who knows what I like, and tells me.  I realize how consumerist this is, but I enjoy it.  In the beginning of our love affair, I went to the "Amazon Betterizer" and told Amazon of the books and movies I love.  Now, I have ordered many things from Amazon, and my home page suggestions get better and better all the time.  I also submit ratings to Amazon, because I rely on ratings to make purchasing decisions, and it has almost never let me down.

Basically, I may have a jaded view of the system, or maybe I am just super lazy.  But I really don't care if advertisers and social media use my data.  Because I really do like that dress on my sidebar, and it is only on sale until 12am.