Enabled by ubiquitous dataveillance practices, corporations try to construct accurate algorithmic profiles of their users for various purposes, such as personalized advertising. In this study, we confront users with their personal algorithmic profiles and employ a cross-sectional survey ( N = 685) to investigate how perceived accuracy of algorithmic profiling relates to perceived surveillance and subsequent coping strategies. Our findings reveal that the more accurate individuals perceive their algorithmic profiles to be, the more they feel surveilled. Subsequently, they experience more privacy cynicism, are less likely to downplay the harm of dataveillance, and have stronger intentions to adjust ad settings. Furthermore, whereas individuals with lower online privacy literacy have higher privacy cynicism regardless of their level of perceived surveillance, those with higher literacy are more likely to experience privacy cynicism as they feel more surveilled. These findings suggest that subjective evaluations of algorithmic profiling can contribute to feelings of surveillance and individual coping responses. • The more accurate individuals perceive their algorithmic profiles to be, the more they feel surveilled. • Perceived surveillance is related to higher privacy protection behavioral intention and privacy cynicism. • Online privacy literacy does not prevent people from experiencing privacy cynicism under high perceived surveillance. • Perceived accuracy holds greater importance than objective accuracy in shaping individuals' responses.

Physical inactivity bears risks for physical and mental health. Theoretically grounded, novel intervention approaches are needed that encourage a positive affective reaction. Exergames may provide this opportunity, especially if different skill levels of players are automatically adapted. Drawing from two pre-registered within-subjects online experiments (total N = 1931) where participants were presented with two scenarios (joining exergame as most versus least skilled player), we report on the willingness of adults to engage in (skill-adapted) exergames. We also describe individual differences in willingness based on sociodemographic characteristics and social comparison processes. Willingness was higher when joining as the most versus the least skilled player among younger ( r s = -0.28) and more highly educated ( r s 0.07 and 0.12) participants, and among those who owned gaming consoles (vs. not; d s 0.28 and 0.45) and had prior exergame experience (vs. not; d s -0.42 and -0.51). Men were more willing to join exergames as the least skilled player than women ( d = -0.16). Social comparison orientation was positively associated with willingness ( r s 0.08 to 0.22), as were tendencies to engage in upward identification ( r s 0.18 and 0.21) and downward contrast ( r s 0.12 and 0.17). Tailoring exergames to sociodemographic and psychological characteristics is likely to maximise their effectiveness for health promotion. • Willingness to play exergames moderate to high, indicating potential for public health • Willingness higher in younger, better educated participants with (exer-)gaming experience • Willingness related to social comparison, mainly upward identification/ downward contrast • Skill-adapted exergames generally seen as motivating and fair: avenue for increasing engagement