December 15, 2023 – Google has announced the introduction of a new Chrome tracking protection feature, defaulting to block third-party cookies, starting from January 4th of next year. The company plans to gradually roll out this “Zero Third-Party Cookie” mode to all users by the second half of 2024.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are files created by websites you visit. They store your browsing information, enhancing your online experience. For instance, websites can keep you logged in, remember your preferences, and provide locally relevant content.
There are two types of cookies:
1. First-party cookies: Created by the website you are visiting. The corresponding website appears in the address bar.
2. Third-party cookies: Created by other websites. When you visit a website, it may embed content from other sites, such as images, advertisements, and text. These other websites may store cookies and other data to offer you a personalized experience.
Initially, only 1% of users worldwide will have the opportunity to experience this feature, and if you’re randomly selected, you will receive a notification.
However, according to StatCounter’s November report, Google Chrome currently holds approximately 62.85% of the global browser market share. Considering the potentially billions of Chrome users today, the 1% randomly chosen by Google could be quite substantial.
Google has explicitly stated that some websites may not function properly when third-party cookies are blocked. In such cases, you can click on the “eye” icon on the right side of the address bar and choose to reopen third-party cookie mode for 90 days.
When Chrome detects that a user is encountering issues on a specific website, it will prompt a message asking whether you’d like to temporarily re-enable third-party cookies for that site. Google emphasizes that this temporary allowance will also apply to incognito mode.
