Spoiler Alert: Google Could Be Watching What You're Watching

The boom in the technology sector has lead to a major change in the way companies market their products. Social media has exploded, leaving companies like

and

with massive databases of consumer preferences and the tools to target specific segments of the population based on their online habits. No company has done this better than

, whose search engine, email platform and plethora of other offerings have allowed the company to provide marketers with mountains of data. Now, Google is looking to take over TV as well, but the company's data collection could be welcome news to binge watchers sick of having their favorite shows ruined by internet spoilers.

Goodbye Spoilers

On Tuesday, Google was awarded

for a system that would track users' TV and movie viewing habits and filter out content on the internet that they haven't seen yet. The system would essentially monitor how far into a series a viewer is and ensure that episode recaps and other information isn't displayed while they are browsing until they've finished the show.

The patent didn't specify which sites would be included in the filter, but most expect it would apply to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, where most spoilers tend to appear. Google having a patent doesn't mean the system will eventually be built, but it reflects a growing interest in online streaming services. The soaring popularity in online streaming services like

is quickly changing the TV landscape, and Google appears to be looking for ways to integrate into the market and remain a data collection superpower.