Accepting Cookies?

To the question that you too have surely asked yourself at least once, ‘but should you accept cookies?’ there is no correct and universal answer. Tracking cookies simplify the browsing experience by allowing maximum customisation of ads and content according to your online activity.

For some users, this is seen as a positive aspect in favour of clicking on ‘Accept cookies’, as they feel it is better to consent because they appreciate seeing relevant ads and tailored content, thus enhancing their overall experience.

On the other hand, there are users who see targeted ads as invasive and tend to reject their tracking.

What happens if you do not accept cookies?

If you decide not to accept cookies on a website, there may be certain consequences.

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, if your choice is to refuse tracking, the first aspect that will change is the lack of personalisation of your customer journey.

By deciding to proceed with browsing by not accepting cookies you should also expect, that when you are on platforms where access to your account is required, to have to log in every time you visit a new page or after a period of inactivity.

The use of cookies allows you to enjoy the website without any hindrance to the user experience and functionality, which may be greatly reduced if you refuse.

What happens if you delete cookies?

Have you or would you like to delete cookies? What you should expect is practically the same result as not accepting them: no customisation, loss of login data and preferences as well as a number of problems with certain online services related to the websites you have visited over time.

When cookies are needed?

In Italy and many other countries it is mandatory to inform users about the use of cookies and obtain their consent, but when is this required?

Does your site require users to log in? You will need to use them so that users can store authentication information and do not have to log in each time they visit.

Are there advertisements on your site? You must inform the site visitor so that they can choose whether they want to be monitored so that they see targeted ads based on their interests in the future.

Do you have an e-commerce? Cookies are needed because they can keep track of the items in a user’s shopping cart.

How to stay up-to-date on news about the use of cookies?

Keeping track of changes in privacy laws and making sure you keep your practices up-to-date in compliance with them is very important.

A first step is certainly to regularly consult the websites of privacy regulators in your country and in the European Union: for the EU, check the website of the European Data Protection Agency (EDPS) and of national authorities such as the garante for the protection of personal data in Italy.

The topic may turn out to be thorny, so often the best solution is to rely on those who work and manage privacy and policy for many websites on a daily basis, also with the help of online platforms such as Iubenda.