Cookies have been part of the internet since 1994. In the 30 years since then, they’ve become a constant feature of everyday website usage.
Cookies let websites recognise your device and protect your information—even letting you choose what cookie settings will apply to you. However, Google aims to phase out third-party cookies and make cookie control mandatory.
What are Third-Party Cookies?
Third-party cookies, as opposed to regular cookies, allow for cross-website tracking, allowing the website to track your activity on other websites. This lets them show personalised ads and other content when you visit websites, overall trying to enhance the user’s website experience by being more tailored to their needs.
What’s Happening To Them?
Google announced in 2020 that it would be phasing out third-party cookies due to people wanting to have more control over their privacy on websites and the internet in general. Many websites don’t allow people to fully use their sites without cookies, so you have to agree to their terms in order to use the site properly. This decision was made in August 2019 when they announced the Privacy Sandbox. This aims to protect users’ data and enable companies to continue to reach their target audiences. One part of this was announcing the gradual removal of third-party cookies on websites to protect people’s privacy.
However, in an update in July 2024, Google announced that instead of deprecating the third-party cookie, they would introduce a new user experience that would let Chrome users make an educated choice that would be applied to their entire website experience and can be changed at any time.