Third-party Cookies

Third-party cookies are small tracking files placed on your browser not by the site you're visiting, but by outside parties — advertising networks, analytics services, and social platforms whose code is embedded in the site. Unlike first-party cookies (which serve useful functions like keeping you logged in), third-party cookies exist primarily to track your behavior across multiple websites and build a behavioral profile for advertising purposes.

What it means

When you visit Site A, and Site A has embedded Google Ads, Meta Pixel, or Twitter tracking code, those third parties can place cookies in your browser. When you then visit Site B, which also has Google Ads, Google recognizes you as the same user — and can build a cross-site picture of your interests, politics, health searches, and purchasing intent. This cross-site tracking is how "the ad that follows you" works.

Chrome announced the deprecation of third-party cookies multiple times (originally planned for 2022, then 2023, then 2024) before delaying indefinitely. Safari and Firefox blocked them years ago. The advertising industry's resistance to this change reflects how fundamental third-party cookies are to the surveillance advertising model.

How it works on Gab

Gab uses third-party cookies and other adtech tools as part of delivering Gab Ads, including third-party ad inventory. Cookie and tracking behavior is governed by Gab's privacy policy. GabPRO subscribers browse without feed ads.

Related terms

Third-party cookies work alongside tracking pixels and ad retargeting in the behavioral advertising stack. Both are components of adtech and the surveillance capitalism model. VPNs reduce but don't eliminate cookie-based tracking.