A cookie is a way that companies use to track your use of their websites and try to remarket what information to use or send to your screen. This is one way in which your password and username are remembered to allow access to your accounts and information,
your settings for certain websites, and for offering targeted advertisements that are more likely to interest you.
What is a Cookie?
Cookies are small file that is created containing small bits of data that will show what computer is being used. The most frequent information included within a cookie is the username and the password that you have chosen for any particular website. This allows you to save settings and account information when you log in. Each cookie is created by the server for that website and is only accessible to them. It allows the server to remember and choose what information to provide to your computer for each use. An HTTP cookie is one that is used with the browser in order to track what is accessed, searched, and contacted during any internet use. This can allow for advertisements to be assigned that relate to searches that you’ve made,
to bring new ideas for items that compare to those you have shown interest in, and more.
Why Has Google Stopped Used Them?
Google has limited and is moving away from the use of cookies to track users in a way to protect the privacy of users. As the expansion of social media has brought
increased tracking and use of personal information, there has been increased attention to this issue. In a move to address the privacy concerns of
people around the world, Google has set out to block cookies from others and to limit the information that is tracked and followed.
What Does Google Use Instead?
In order to limit and then completely halt the use of cookies,
there has been a switch to other methods of tracking browser usage and information. New methods are being instituted that do things to follow browser history rather than other methods. Artificial intelligence is being engaged to gather information about sites being used and searched terms and phrases, then adding people who have looked for similar items together into cohorts. Each cohort is selected for targeted advertising that fits their demographic and that is most likely to interest people who have searched for certain topics or products. The move away from cookies will change how companies have been operating online for years,
but with alternative methods in place,
many things will not change. Tracking has begun through using an email address instead, by using search engine results and searches, and other noninvasive methods. These new methods are able to offer targeted ads, ensure user privacy is protected,
and still allow for ease of use of all the most popular internet browsers.
