By Cam Srivastava

Do you get annoyed when you are surfing the Internet and a message similar to this pops up?

Nowadays, practically every website asks a version of this question. And chances are — if you are like me, at least — your eagerness to peruse the website overcomes any moment of deliberation, so you mindlessly click accept. But let’s stop for a moment and think about what that type of message actually means and if you really should accept cookies?

First, what are these “cookies”? The term “cookies” refers to information that identifies a visitor to a website. This can include your name, the amount of time you spend on the page, the links you click, and the items in your shopping cart, among other data, according to an article in The Sun. There are two types of cookies: “temporary” (session) cookies which expire immediately after you leave the website, and “permanent” (persistent) cookies that track your activity until you intentionally delete them from your computer, per cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg. 

The primary utility of cookies is targeted advertising, of which websites and apps often take advantage. For example, if you are searching for a new backpack and visit L.L. Bean’s website, the next time you are scrolling through your Instagram feed, you may see an advertisement from L.L. Bean promoting a discount code for backpacks. 

As demonstrated by this example, cookies can be used to transfer information across platforms. So what happens if you do not accept the cookies? Well, some websites are configured such that you may not be allowed to visit their website at all if you choose not to accept cookies.

Other websites will allow you to proceed as usual, but your experience on the website itself may differ (your “shopping cart” may not be able to retain its history, etc); Steinberg notes that cookies “allow you to click between pages on a website without having to log in or verify your identity on each page.” 

Now, given these facts, the question arises — are cookies dangerous, despite their seeming utility in facilitating your user experience? Can they be used to spread viruses on your computer or access information you have stored on your hard drive? Thankfully, the answer is no. However, many have raised the issues of unwanted privacy invasions and manipulation of an individual’s behavior (if one’s preferences indicate they have certain tendencies, companies can try to exploit those tendencies through targeted advertising to harmful ends) that may come with cookies. While the extent of cookies’ impact may have no clear answer — at least, as of now — fierce discussions of their implications occur in both the public (government) and private (Google, Apple, Facebook, etc) spheres.

Hopefully, the next time you see the message asking you to accept cookies, you can make a more informed decision of how you want to proceed. If you accept, remember — you can always delete all cookies (even the “permanent” ones) if you so desire. With the cookies deleted, companies can no longer track your online activity. The task is easily accessible in the settings tab of most browsers — and with a click of the button, voila, the cookie jar is empty and your browsing habits are safe!

Sources:

• https://www.termsfeed.com/blog/4-ways-notify-users-cookies/

• https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/6507593/what-is-cookie-internet-accept-info-decline-delete-cookies-explained/

• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/how-often-to-delete-cookies-yahoo-subscriptions-190809073.html