I am in my 80th year, and have never revealed any personal details on social media nor bought anything online, yet for the last 20 years have been inundated with advertising for arthritis cures, aids for bathing, shopping trolleys, wheelchairs, funeral arrangements, stairlifts, etc. So it isn’t just social media platforms that have been harvesting data (Report, 23 March).

Ann Dowling

Manchester

• In view of your splendid reporting on the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica abuse of privacy, why is the Guardian still using Facebook?

Mary Davies

Hinton, Dorset

• I agree that the Labour party should not target the seat of Caroline Lucas (Letters, 22 March). I am, however, still angry that the Green party put up a candidate in Ed Balls’ constituency in 2015: as a consequence, they let in the Tory. I suppose it meant we could watch Balls on Strictly Come Dancing.

Lesley Aers

Durham

• Please tell all reporters, writers, editors and subeditors to stop using the phrase “could potentially”; its continued use might push me over the edge!

David Reed

London

• As a teacher I received a sick note from a parent. After three attempts to spell diarrhoea (Letters, 23 March), she crossed them all out and wrote “dire rear”. How very apt.

Angus MacIntosh

Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire

• Our Latin teacher taught us No Vile Aunts Go Down Alleys, which I remember more than the declensions it represents.

Felicity Manning

Richmond, North Yorkshire

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