Targeted ads are as old as book printing
"Research showed that 90% of the ads for high end Swiss watches was targeted at white males between 40 and 60 years old that have a profile indicating they might have a higher management positions".
In the paper age we already had targeted ads. Putting ads for Ferraris, IWC watches and LearJet Gulfstreams in the Sun would have been a waste of paper.
Different classes of people could choose the magazines and newspapers matching their status in society.
Why do research on subjects which are established facts for centuries ?.