What are cookies? Is it so bad or are they tasty? Let’s discuss it!
Last Updated on February 14, 2023 by Alexander Rydberg Ling
No matter your job title or seniority level, cookies and online privacy affects everyone. Even if you don’t make your living within the digital world and discuss expressions like attention, awareness, and retention in your daily business, you are just as affected by the digital changes that are happening online. We as private persons are the frontrunners in the changing online marketing landscape. With regulations such as GDPR and E-privacy, we are impacting the digital landscape where privacy is the end goal.
Let’s start with some background info.
Research has shown that consumers prefer personalized marketing and user experience which – said out loud is a given. Of course, we prefer ads that are personalized and how convenient is it that every time we log in to Facebook or any of our favorite sites our username is already typed in and saved so all you have to do is click enter (…if you even have to press anything) and voila you are logged in to your account! So how is this possible?
Let us introduce the cookie!
Let’s go! Cookies are small text files that are stored on a user’s computer by a website. They are used to store information about a user’s preferences, login credentials, and browsing history. Cookies are an essential component of the modern web and are used to provide a personalized experience to users and to track their behavior for advertising purposes. There are two types of cookies: first-party cookies and third-party cookies.
First-party cookies are set by the website that a user visits. They are used to store information that the website needs to remember, such as the user’s preferred language, login credentials, and shopping cart contents. This information is stored on the user’s computer and is only accessible to the website that created the cookie.
Third-party cookies, on the other hand, are set by a domain other than the one that the user is visiting. These cookies are often used for advertising purposes, as they allow advertisers to track a user’s behavior across multiple websites and build a profile of their interests. This information can then be used to show the user more relevant advertisements.
One of the main differences between first-party cookies and third-party cookies is the level of control that a user has over them. First-party cookies are considered more privacy-friendly, as they are only accessible to the website that created them and can be deleted by the user at any time. Third-party cookies, on the other hand, can be more difficult to control, as they are set by a different domain and may persist even after a user has deleted their browsing history.
Summary
In conclusion, cookies are an essential component of the modern web, but there are important differences between first-party cookies and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are typically considered more privacy-friendly, as they are only accessible to the website that created them, whereas third-party cookies can be used to track a user’s behavior across multiple websites. The use of third-party cookies has led to growing concern about privacy, and many browsers are now taking steps to block them by default to make sure every individual can feel protected and secure online. But also remember that some of the cookies (first-party) will still be around and don’t be afraid because many of them help to enhance your digital experience – but don’t forget, read the cookie policy and make sure that you are the owner of your data and actions online!
Lets end it with a quote from European Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
“One of the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is to protect individuals’ fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly their right to protection of their personal data.”