Where are we vulnerable to exploitation online these days?

I'm usually curious about various topics, but lately, I've noticed that external, exploitative influences—primarily from advertisements—are nudging me toward interests I wouldn't have pursued on my own (I use an ad blocker, block trackers etc). While I appreciate some of the directions I've been led, I want to understand these exploitative influences.

I've identified that I'm particularly susceptible to manipulation on a few types of websites, such as search engines, retailers, tailored content platforms, and social media sites that have profiled me.

I'm interested in better understanding these influences and have two questions:

What other categories of manipulative websites should I be aware of? What additional methods of manipulation might I be missing? Any insights or experiences would be greatly appreciated!