- Third-party cookies are small pieces of data created by websites other than the one you are currently visiting.
- Third-party cookies are primarily used for tracking and advertising purposes, allowing advertisers to track your browsing behavior across different websites.
Third-party cookies have become an integral part of the digital advertising ecosystem, but have also sparked debates about privacy, user consent and data security in the online world. As privacy awareness increases and regulations are introduced, the future is likely to see more alternatives and technologies to balance personalised experiences with user privacy protection.
What is third-party cookie
Third-party cookies are small pieces of data created by websites other than the one you are currently visiting. These cookies are set by a third-party domain name, not directly by the website you are browsing, and are therefore called “third parties”.
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Main features of third-party cookie
1. Source: The source of the third-party cookie is not the domain name in the address bar of your browser. For example, if you are visiting website A, but it contains resources from Website B, a cookie set by Website B is considered a third-party cookie.
2. Purpose: Third-party cookies are mainly used for tracking and advertising purposes. They allow advertisers and AD networks to track your browsing behavior across different websites. This tracking allows them to build a profile of your interests and serve you targeted ads.
3. Functionality: These cookies work like first-party cookies (set by the website you visit directly), but run on a different website. They can store information such as login credentials, preferences, browsing history, and other data useful for advertising and analytics.
4. Controversy: Third-party cookies have been the subject of controversy due to privacy concerns. Critics argue that mass tracking without users’ explicit consent could compromise privacy, lead to data breaches, and potentially expose users to targeted ads with their full understanding or consent.
5. Regulations and changes: In response to these concerns, major Web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge have implemented or announced plans to phase out support for third-party cookies. This shift to a more privacy-focused approach is designed to give users greater control over their online data and browsing experience.
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Application scenarios of third-party cookie
1. AD tracking and targeted advertising: The most common use of third-party cookies is to track a user’s browsing behavior across multiple websites in order to build user interest and behavior data. Advertisers and AD networks can use this data to show targeted ads to users to improve AD performance and conversion rates.
2. Social media integration: Many websites include plugins or embedded content from social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. These social media platforms may use third-party cookies to track user visits and interactions in order to improve their services and AD targeting.
3. Analytics and statistics: Third-party cookies are also used for website analytics and statistics to help website owners understand visitor behavior patterns, traffic sources and page interactions. Common Analytics tools such as Google Analytics use third-party cookies to collect this information.
4. Content customisation: Some websites use third-party cookies to provide personalised content and recommendation services to recommend relevant news, products or services based on the user’s preferences and historical behavior.
