My Privacy Policy explains my principles when it comes to the collection, processing, and storage of your information. This policy specifically explains how I, my partners, and users of my services deploy cookies, as well as the options you have to control them.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of data, stored in text files, that are stored on your computer or other device when websites are loaded in a browser. They are widely used to “remember” you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a “session cookie”) or for multiple repeat visits (using a “persistent cookie”). They ensure a consistent and efficient experience for visitors, and perform essential functions such as allowing users to register and remain logged in. Cookies may be set by the site that you are visiting (known as “first party cookies”), or by third parties, such as those who serve content or provide advertising or analytics services on the website (“third party cookies”). Both websites and HTML emails may also contain other tracking technologies such as “web beacons” or “pixels.” These are typically small transparent images that provide us with statistics, for similar purposes as cookies. They are often used in conjunction with cookies, though they are not stored on your computer in the same way. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted.
How I use cookies
I use cookies for a number of different purposes. Some cookies are necessary for technical reasons; some enable a personalized experience for both visitors and registered users; and some allow the display of advertising from selected third party networks. Some of these cookies may be set when a page is loaded, or when a visitor takes a particular action (clicking the “like” or “follow” button on a post, for example). For more information on the choices you have about the cookies I use, please see the Controlling Cookies section below.
Where I place cookies
I set cookies on my website.
Types of Cookies
The table below explains the types of cookies I use on my website and why I use them.
| Category of cookies | Why we use these cookies |
|---|---|
| Required | These cookies are essential for my website and services to perform basic functions and are necessary for me to operate certain features. These include those required to allow registered users to authenticate and perform account-related functions, store preferences set by users such as account name, language, and location, and ensure our services are operating properly. |
| Analytics and Performance | These cookies allow me to optimize performance by collecting information on how users interact with my website, including which pages are visited most, as well as other analytical data. I use these details to improve how my website functions and to understand how users interact with it. |
| Advertising | These cookies are set by me and my advertising partners to provide you with relevant content and to understand that content’s effectiveness. They may be used to collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites to predict your preferences and to display more relevant advertisements to you. These cookies also allow a profile to be built about you and your interests and enable personalized ads to be shown to you based on your profile. |
Examples
Below are examples of the cookies, with explanations of their purpose. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, but rather aims to be representative.
Required
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| __ssid | For processing payment and to aid in fraud detection. |
| __stripe_sid / __stripe_mid | For processing payment and to aid in fraud detection. |
| _longreads_prod_new | Authentication for Longreads.com Member accounts. Only active when logged in, on *.longreads.com domains. |
| akm_mobile | Stores whether a user has chosen to view the mobile version of a website. |
| botdlang | Used to track the language a user has selected to view popular blogs in. |
| country_code | Used in order to determine whether or not the cookie banner should be shown. Set immediately on page load and retained for 6 hours to remember the visitor’s country. |
| csrftoken | Python/Ajax security cookie used on accounts.longreads.com. |
| forterToken | For processing payment and to aid in fraud detection. |
| landingpage_currency | Defines the currency displayed in WordPress.com landing pages. |
| pd_dashboard | Records last used folder in Polldaddy dashboard so it can be reopened upon user’s next visit. |
| PD_USER_AUTH | Login cookie used to identify Polldaddy user. |
| sensitive_pixel_option | Remembers the state of visitor acceptance to the cookie banner. Only set when the visitor clicks Accept. |
| twostep_auth | Set when the user is logged in using two factor authentication. |
| wordpress_logged_in* | Checks whether or not the current visitor is a logged in WordPress.com user. |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Checks if cookies are enabled to provide appropriate user experience. |
| wp-settings-{user_id} | Persists a user’s wp-admin configuration. |
| wp_sharing_{id} | Tracks whether or not a user has already performed an action. |
Analytics and Performance
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| __pdvt | Used in log of Polldaddy survey data to aid in debugging customer problems |
| _hjIncludedInSample | |
| mp_6d7c50ad560e01715a871a117a2fbd90_mixpanel | |
| optimizelyBuckets | |
| optimizelyEndUserId | |
| __hstc | |
| hubspotutk | |
| optimizelySegments | Gathers information that helps us understand how visitors interact with our websites, which allows us to create a better visitor experience. |
| ab | Used for “AB testing” of new features. |
| nux_flow_name | Identifies which user signup flow was shown to the user. |
| tk_ni / tk_ai / tk_qs | Gathers information for our own, first party analytics tool about how our services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience. |
| wp-affiliate-tracker | Remembers the ID of the affiliate that referred the current user to WordPress.com |
| utma / utmb / utmc / utmt / utmz / ga / gat / gid | Google Analytics. Gathers information that helps us understand how visitors interact with our websites, which allow us to create a better experience for our visitors. Our users may also implement Google Analytics on their own websites. |
Advertising
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ads | Tracks if a visitor has clicked an ad before. |
| lr_nw | Counts and tracks pageviews on Longreads.com. Used to determine whether or not to show our Membership popup message. |
| wordpress_eli | Reduces the display of ads for repeat visitors. |
Controlling Cookies
Visitors may wish to restrict the use of cookies or completely prevent them from being set. Most browsers provide for ways to control cookie behavior such as the length of time they are stored – either through built-in functionality or by utilizing third party plugins. If you disable cookies, please be aware that some of the features of my website may not function correctly. To find out more on how to manage and delete cookies, visit aboutcookies.org. For more details on your choices regarding use of your web browsing activity for interest-based advertising visit youronlinechoices.eu (EU based) or optout.aboutads.info (US based).
On a mobile device, you may also be able to adjust your settings to limit
Some analytics services I use, which place their own cookies or web tags on your browser, offer their own opt out choices. For example, you can opt out of Google Analytics by installing Google’s opt-out browser add-on, from Hotjar by using the Do Not Track header, and from Nielsen by clicking the opt out link found within Nielsen’s Privacy Statement.
Consent for Advertising Cookies
You may see a “cookie banner” on my website. If you are visiting from the EU, then I do not set, or allow ad partners to set, cookies that are used to show you targeted ads before you click to accept. When you consent in this manner, I and my advertising partners may set advertising cookies on the site you are visiting which we use to show you advertisements about our various products. We’ll display the banner to you periodically, just in case you change your mind.
Consent and Choices for Advertisements on My Website Through My Ads Program
You may see a “cookie banner” on my website, particularly if you are in the European Union. If so, then my ad program does not set, or allow ad partners to set, cookies that are used to show you targeted ads before you accept.
When you consent in this manner, I and my advertising partners may set third party advertising cookies in order to show you personalized ads on the website you are visiting. For other sites that participate in my ads program, your consent is only for personalized ads on the specific site you are visiting.
Contact Me
If you have any questions about my use of cookies, you can find the most relevant contact details in my Privacy Policy.
Cookies Policy template courtesy of GitHub – Automattic/legalmattic: Democratizing WordPress.com legalese since 2014!
Briana Bass 