In every ordinary morning, the first thing we wake up is often to pick up our mobile phone. We slide the screen and click on familiar applications: weather, news, social media and so on. These seemingly simple actions constitute most of our digital life. However, have we ever stopped to think that behind these glamorous interfaces, there is a huge team of "ghosts" who are silently tracking, recording and analyzing everything about us?

This isn't merely a science fiction scenario; it's a reality we experience daily. By "ghosts", I mean those data trackers hidden in every application, every webpage and even every advertisement link. They are like cyber detectives, ceaselessly collecting our data. You may think it's no big deal. Isn't it just some browsing records and location information? But the truth is much more complicated than that.

These data trackers are building a complete "digital you" in an unimaginable way. They not only know which corner cafe you had coffee at today, but also know that you decided to go there because you saw an advertisement. They not only know what goods you have searched online recently, but also know that you have the impulse to buy because you watched a live broadcast of online celebrity. They can even infer your current emotional state through the speed and way you type. These seemingly insignificant data points, after being spliced and analyzed by big data algorithm, will form a gruesome accurate portrait of users.

This user portrait is like a transparent you. It knows your hobbies, consumption habits, social circle, health status and even your political inclination. Please don't be surprised when you see an advertisement "recommended for you" on the Internet. Behind this is the joint efforts of countless "ghosts", who have accurately predicted your needs and even prepared a "perfect" solution for you before you realized it.

However, most of us don't care about it. We are immersed in the comfort zone built by the algorithm and enjoy the convenience brought by personalized recommendation. We will even take the initiative to open the door to these "ghosts", for example, when registering new applications, we will not hesitate to click "agree" to those lengthy and obscure user agreements. We think we are the masters of the digital world, but in fact, we are the ones who are controlled.

This unconscious transfer of personal data is bringing a series of chain reactions. The world we see is becoming more and more homogeneous, because the algorithm will only push what we want to see, not what we need to know; Our consumption behavior is more and more predictable, because advertisers have mastered every purchase motive; Our thoughts are also being shaped quietly, because the information we receive has been carefully screened and filtered.

So, how should we deal with these ubiquitous "ghosts"? First of all, we need to change our ideas and realize that our data is a valuable personal asset, not digital garbage that can be discarded at will. Secondly, we can take some practical actions, such as cleaning the browser cache and Cookie regularly, using privacy protection tools, or reading the user agreement carefully and closing unnecessary permissions when installing new applications.

Protecting personal data is a long-term struggle. This does not mean that we should return to the era without digital tools, but that we should be alert and sober while enjoying the convenience of science and technology. After all, the beauty of the digital world should not be at the expense of our personal privacy. Only when we truly understand and control our data can we become the real masters of the digital age.

（Writer：Seli）