In today’s Times Matthew Parris writes “Last week I bought a new dressing gown online. I probably won’t need another for the rest of my life. This week my screen is invaded by advertising for dressing gowns. I don’t think that’s evil: I think it’s stupid. Unerringly, the “cookies” used in this kind of advertising have enabled retailers to target someone particularly unlikely to be looking for what they’re hoping to sell … it does illustrate the gullibility of those to whom social media magic is sold.”

There’s a word for this. Dumbgorithm. (OK, I just made it up).