In July 2024, Google announced that it’s Chrome browser would continue to accept third-party cookies. Read about the news in our blog.
In January 2020, a significant move set to reshape the digital advertising landscape was announced by Google, the phase-out of third-party cookies support in Chrome. Google’s original plan was for support to be phased out within two years, but four years on, only 1% of Chrome users have been restricted from third-party cookies with a new target of early 2025 being announced more recently. This decision marks a pivotal shift away from a long-standing practice that has been at the core of online advertising strategies, stirring up the industry and prompting online advertisers to rethink how they reach and engage with their target audiences.
The role of third-party cookies
Cookies, which are small text files used to track the online activities of Internet users, have been instrumental in enabling effective personalised advertising across all platforms. While first-party cookies collect data directly for the website being visited, third-party cookies track user behaviour across different sites, providing a wealth of information and data for advertisers to tailor and optimise their campaigns. However, this capability has raised significant privacy concerns among users and regulators alike for its somewhat invasive nature.
It's crunch time
The growing demand for greater privacy and control over personal data from users and regulators largely influenced Google’s decision to begin phasing out support for third-party cookies on Chrome. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the US reflect this shift towards prioritising user privacy. Additionally, the decision from other major web browsers such as Safari and Firefox who have already blocked third-party cookies by default has put a huge amount of pressure on Chrome, the world’s most popular browser, to follow suit.
As a result of Safari and Firefox’s decisiveness and action, they have positioned themselves as champions of user privacy, gaining favourable reception from privacy-conscious users, something which Google would have surely made note of. Google’s delayed response to depreciate third-party cookies can be seen as an effort to balance the competitive edge in privacy features while also considering the ramifications for its advertising business.
Navigating the post-cookie landscape
For online advertisers, the depreciation of third-party cookies in Chrome signals the end of an era. The ability to track users’ browsing activities across sites for targeted advertising has been a cornerstone of digital marketing strategies, enabling advertisers to optimise their campaigns and measure their effectiveness with unparalleled precision. The loss of third-party cookie support will necessitate a fundamental change in how advertisers approach audience targeting and personalisation as well as overall online advertising strategies and more importantly, investments.
Despite the radical announcement, this isn’t something that digital advertisers are unfamiliar with, as the online advertising industry is constantly being thrown curveball after curveball, keeping industry experts on their toes and having to readjust their thinking. As the industry grapples with these changes, several strategies have emerged as viable paths forward that can provide some hope for optimism.
- First-Party Data Collection: Emphasising the collection of first-party data will become paramount. Advertisers will need to focus on building direct relationships with their audience and encouraging users to share their information voluntarily so this can be used to build accurate profiles of their target audiences which can then be translated into their online campaigns.
- Privacy Sandbox Initiatives: Google’s Privacy Sandbox aims to develop alternative technologies that uphold privacy while still delivering targeted advertisements. Advertisers should stay up to date on these developments and prepare to adopt these new tools.
- Contextual Advertising: Shifting focus towards contextual advertising, which targets ads based on the content of the webpage rather than the user’s past behaviour, offers a privacy-friendly alternative, whilst still delivering ads to relevant users.
- Enhanced Audience Modelling: Leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict user behaviour based on aggregated data, rather than individual tracking, presents a sophisticated way to maintain advertising efficacy. More and more campaign types across the most popular advertising platforms are utilising enhanced AI technologies that help better target users outside of traditional targeting methods.
Adjusting to Google's cookie policy shift
To summarise, Google’s depreciation of third-party cookies highlights a wider industry movement towards prioritising user privacy over invasive tracking. While it poses challenges for advertisers used to the granular targeting capabilities of third-party cookies, it also opens up opportunities for innovation and the adoption of more transparent, privacy-respecting advertising practices. Advertisers that adapt quickly and strategically to this new landscape will not only comply with the evolving regulatory and consumer expectations but also secure a competitive advantage in the privacy-first digital future and benefit the most whilst others fall behind and play catch up.
