Google is phasing out third-party cookies in Chrome

# What Google's phasing out of third-party cookies means for you

If you use Google Chrome as your web browser, you may have heard that Google is planning to phase out third-party cookies by 2024. But what are third-party cookies, and why is Google getting rid of them?

## What are third-party cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data that websites store on your browser when you visit them. They can be used for various purposes, such as remembering your preferences, logging you in, or showing you relevant ads.

However, not all cookies are created by the website you visit. Some cookies are set by third-party domains, such as advertisers, analytics providers, or social media platforms. These cookies can track your activity across different websites, creating a profile of your interests, behavior, and preferences. This is how you may see ads for products or services that you searched for or viewed on other sites.

## Why is Google phasing out third-party cookies?

Google says that it is phasing out third-party cookies in Chrome to improve user privacy and security on the web. Google claims that third-party cookies are an outdated and intrusive way of tracking users, and that they pose risks to user data and identity.

Google is not the first browser to take this step. Other browsers, such as Safari and Firefox, have already blocked or limited third-party cookies by default. However, Chrome is the most popular browser in the world, with over 60% market share[^1^][1], so its decision will have a significant impact on the web ecosystem.

## How will Google phase out third-party cookies?

Google is not simply removing third-party cookies from Chrome. Instead, it is proposing a set of new technologies and standards, collectively called the Privacy Sandbox, that aim to replace third-party cookies with more privacy-preserving alternatives.

The Privacy Sandbox consists of several initiatives, such as:

- **Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC)**: This is a method of grouping users into cohorts based on their browsing history, without revealing their individual identities or activities. Websites and advertisers can then target ads to these cohorts, rather than to individual users.

- **Trust Tokens**: These are tokens that websites can issue to users to prove that they are human and not bots, without revealing their personal information. This can help prevent fraud and abuse on the web.

- **First-Party Sets**: This is a way for websites that belong to the same organization or brand to declare their relationship, so that they can share cookies and data with each other, without being considered as third-party domains.

Google is currently testing and developing these technologies, and plans to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome gradually, starting from January 4, 2024, with disabling third-party cookies for 1% of users[^2^][2].

## What does this mean for you?

As a user, Google's phasing out of third-party cookies may have some benefits and drawbacks for you.

On the positive side, you may experience more privacy and security on the web, as your browsing activity will be less exposed to third-party domains. You may also see less annoying and irrelevant ads, as advertisers will have to rely on more contextual and aggregated data to target you.

On the negative side, you may encounter some issues or inconveniences on some websites that rely on third-party cookies for certain functionalities, such as logging in, personalizing content, or providing analytics. You may also see more requests for consent or permissions from websites that want to access your data or storage.

In any case, you will still have some control over how cookies are handled in Chrome. You can adjust your cookie settings in Chrome's Privacy and security section, where you can choose to block or allow cookies from specific sites or domains. You can also clear your browsing data, including cookies, from Chrome's History section.

## Conclusion

Google's phasing out of third-party cookies in Chrome is a major change for the web, and it will affect both users and websites. Google says that it is doing this to improve user privacy and security, and to create a more sustainable web ecosystem. However, the transition will not be easy or smooth, and there may be some challenges and trade-offs along the way. As a user, you should be aware of how this change will affect your web experience, and how you can manage your cookie preferences in Chrome.