Enhancing User Experience: The Role of Cookies in Yahoo's Digital Ecosystem
ICARO Media Group
**Understanding Yahoo’s Cookie Use Policy**
Yahoo, as part of the Yahoo family which also includes AOL, Engadget, Rivals, In The Know, and Makers, employs cookies to enhance user experience on their websites and apps.
Cookies, along with similar technologies like web storage, play a crucial role in allowing Yahoo to store and retrieve information from a user’s device. This functionality is pivotal not just for providing seamless access to their suite of platforms but also for ensuring robust authentication, implementing security measures, and combating spam and abuse effectively.
Moreover, Yahoo uses cookies to gather aggregate data about website visits. This includes metrics such as the number of visitors, the type of devices used (e.g., iOS or Android), the browsers in use, and the duration of visits. Importantly, this data collection is done anonymously, safeguarding individual user identities.
When users opt to ‘Accept all’ cookies, Yahoo and its partners (including 241 entities within the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework) can access this stored information and utilise precise geolocation data and other personal data like IP addresses and browsing history. This is predominantly for purposes of analytics, personalised advertising, content delivery, measuring advertising and content effectiveness, audience research, and service development.
For users who do not wish to share their personal data for these extended purposes, Yahoo provides the option to ‘Reject all’ cookies. Additionally, Yahoo offers a ‘Manage privacy settings’ feature, allowing users to customise their preferences. Users can also withdraw consent or update their choices at any point via the ‘Privacy & cookie settings’ or ‘Privacy dashboard’ links available across Yahoo’s sites and apps. Comprehensive details regarding the handling of personal data are available in Yahoo’s privacy and cookie policies.
By providing these options, Yahoo ensures that users have control over their data privacy while continuing to enjoy the full benefits of their digital platforms.