Have you realised how convenient it is when you visit a website and it remembers you? Just like a caring friend that makes life easier, a website can remember your language, address, links clicked, your unpaid cart or your card! What makes this possible? Cookies.
No, we are not talking about butter, flour, sugar.
According to artbusiness.com, a cookie is an identifier placed in your computer by a web server. It monitors what search you do on a website and keep the data for your next visit. All information you give will be sent back to the page owner. This way, a website can keep all information about you that you don’t have to retell the next time you visit.
Different types of cookies are used by websites, such as the Jamie Oliver website. The website contains countless recipes, access to online booking of Jamie Oliver’s restaurants and the purchase of cooking books. The website uses 4 cookies; essential cookies, performance cookies, functionality cookies and targeted advertising cookies.
Essential cookies. These allow users to log on, put items in the shopping basket and make online payments safely on the page.
Performance cookies. These give information to the web operator about the number of visitors, how long they send on the page and how popular a certain page is. This way, the creator analyses which part of the website needs improvement.
Functionality cookies. This is the reason why the website can recognise you on your next visit, such as your country/ language. These cookies also link you to your social media accounts, so that you can share their page.
Targeting/ advertising cookies. These third-party cookies track your browsing on the page and other pages you visit. They use this information to target you with relevant advertising based on your previous online activities.
This is why, if you’ve noticed, you might see online banner advertising on a different website about an item you’ve previously browsed.
From the example above, it seems obvious that cookies help the internet users and the website owners. We can say we enjoy cookies as online users, but at the same time these cookies consume our bits of information.
It this dangerous? According to Adversitement, it depends on whether the website builders would use the data for good or harmful purposes. Although some websites won’t run without cookies, you can choose to ban cookies from accessing your information.
As a frequent online users, are you fully aware how much information about you is kept by cookies? If you are, would you mind sharing all the information you put online?
Marketing through the Looking Glass 
Hi Lora. I didn’t realise that cookies can keep that much information of my online activities. I would usually agree on cookies policies without really reading what they are about. Now that I know, I will be more aware what information they take. Do you think we can still access a page completely without agreeing on the cookie policy?
LikeLike
Hi Stella, I think understanding what cookies do with your data is a good think to do as an internet user. About whether you can access a page without accepting the cookie policy, some websites need you to agree before you can use all features of the website. Otherwise, some functions will not work. However, in order to keep you safe, make sure the website you visit is a trustworthy website.
LikeLike
Hi, I haven’t known cookies are classified into many types like that. I know that almost every website that require my cookies for any reason. Recently, I search for Flight ticket to Singapore and now, guess what, when I search other websites, the ads for Flight brands appear and on Facebook, there are also many sponsor ads related to Flights too. This makes me feel annoyed a little bit. In general, I don’t like the way they take my cookies and do much advertising like that. Do you think taking cookies will cause annoying issues to customers?
LikeLike
Hi Anh, it’s indeed annoying sometimes seeing ads when you are focusing on something on the website. However, it somehow works as a reminder of customers’ interests. If you don’t want the ads to appear, you can manage the cookie preference (third party cookies). Here is the link of how to manage your ads cookies: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lora, I didn’t realised that there are so many types of cookies at first. As a user myself, I sometimes clear my cookies regularly as I find that clearing cookies can help me browse the internet faster. On the other hand, I also find that cookies is convenient for me since they remember my log in details. This saves a lot of time for me!
LikeLike
Hi Candy. It’s interesting to know that you manage the cookies on your computer. It means that you agreed in the cookie policies in order to access the websites completely. Then you delete the cookies after finishing using the website. That way you have prevented your cookies from being shared.
LikeLike
The title of the article is very eye-catching yet playful. I like it. I’ve heard of and noticed the existence of cookies but I did not know there are even different types of cookies. Thank you for sharing the knowledge with us.
Nowadays, when I visit a page, I normally doesn’t accept the use of cookies to track me as I don’t really feel safe. Do you usually agree to the pop-up page for the use of cookies? And why?
LikeLike
I’m happy you like the article! When I visit a page, I would usually accept the cookies because I can’t access the whole page unless I agree. I also find it helpful when a website remembers my details as it makes my next transactions faster. However, I did not know much about the cookie data sharing before. After learning about cookies, I have become more alerted about how safe a website for me to agree on their cookie policy.
LikeLike