First of: what is a cookie and where is it?
In their most basic form, cookies are text-strings that websites save on your device as you browse the web. They serve as a memory tool and are able to recognize your online behavior and remember your actions. While this may sound negative, cookies are actually what makes the World Wide Web work the way it does. Whether you are online shopping, logging in to an account, or browsing the internet, cookies are responsible for your overall online experience.
What types of cookies are there:
There are three types of computer cookies: session, persistent, and third-party. These virtually invisible text files are all very different. Each with their own mission, these cookies are made to track, collect and store any data that companies request.
First-party cookies:
Although session and persistent are a bit different they both fit in the First-Party cookies category. They keep websites that you visit updated on your visit, what browser you have, what kind of language is your preferred, they help with remembering your username and password, what you put in the shopping cart and so on. All in all, they are functional cookies making your experience of a site more pleasant.
Third-party cookies:
Also referred to as tracking cookies, collect data based on your online behavior. When you visit a website, third-party cookies collect various types of data that are then passed on or sold to advertisers by the website that created the cookie. It keeps track of your interests, location, age, search trends and what types of websites you visit. These cookies collect information so that marketers can provide you with custom advertisements.
Why are Third-party cookies dying?
With the passage of CCPA, ePR, and GDPR, governments are seeking to protect the privacy rights of website users. These laws and regulations create civil and/or criminal penalties for those that fail to notify web users of the presence of cookies. These regulations also require website operators to let users know what information is being collected and to whom this information is shared, along with a way to opt out at any time. Google stated in their response to why “users are demanding greater privacy including transparency, choice and control over how their data is used and it’s clear the web ecosystem needs to evolve to meet these increasing demands”. Privacy is simply the main reason and increasing demand of privacy and clear regulations has been pushing the tech industry into a “cookie free” future. But make no mistake, this is not something that is going to happen, it has already begun and several tech giants like Apple and Mozilla has been blocking third-party cookies for quite some time and when Google who owns 67% of the web browser market joins in, we are going to feel the difference.