Interest-based advertising (IBA) relies on generalized browsing behaviors for ad targeting instead of specific individual behaviors. Which option best describes this?

• A. Specific individual behaviors
• B. Generalized browsing behaviors
• C. Demographics only
• D. Browser fingerprints

Answer: (B)

Interest-based advertising targets ads by inferred interests drawn from patterns in a user’s browsing across many sites, using generalized signals rather than tracking every specific action of an individual. Ads are shown to people who fall into broader interest segments (like sports fans or home decor shoppers) based on aggregated data, not on a precise log of each individual behavior. This stands in contrast to targeting based on specific individual behaviors, which would follow an exact sequence of actions, and it’s more than just using basic demographics because it adds behavioral signals to shape who sees which ads. It isn’t about browser fingerprints, which are technical identifiers meant to recognize a device; IBA relies on interest profiles built from browsing behavior rather than uniquely identifying a person.