The debate over cookies: balancing user privacy and digital convenience
The essay example debates arguments about cookies and user privacy, asking whether cookies are a helpful tool enabling web personalization or an intrusive mechanism violating privacy. By discussing the benefits and privacy issues related to cookies, this argumentative essay shows that transparency and user control are crucial for a secure digital environment. This argumentative paper sample would greatly help marketing professionals and sensitive consumers in terms of privacy who would like to know about the influence of cookies on user experience and the security of information.
Octobre 28, 2024
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
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The Debate Over Cookies: Balancing User Privacy and Digital Convenience
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The Privacy Cost of Cookies: A Closer Look at Data Tracking
In this digital landscape that was increasingly oriented toward users' preferences and
ease, cookies became critical to allowing users to interact on the Internet with a tailored
experience. Cookies store browsing history, login details, and preferences so that users
interact with websites and applications seamlessly and smoothly. Besides simplifying online
interactions, cookies enable the free content model through which websites generate revenue
by showing targeted ads. This convenience has also, unfortunately, led to heavy reliance on
cookies. This comes with an important privacy cost, as these little data files enable companies
to track user behaviors across the internet, mostly without full transparency or consent. In
light of the above, it would thus be critical to query the balance between convenience and
privacy that such a data-driven world is affecting. While cookies, in this case, do tend to
enhance user experience, personalize online interactions, and support the free content model,
their invasive tracking capabilities are indeed in need of stronger regulations for the
protection of user privacy.
Cookies allow users to easily navigate websites by storing information such as login
details and site preferences. They will also be spared the trouble of logging in every time they
access any site; neither would they have to change their settings and languages each time
(Pilton et al., 2021). For frequently visited sites, such as email services or social media
platforms, saving such details by way of cookies automatically implies added usability and
convenience, hence saving hours upon hours for these users (Tsohou & Kosta, 2017).
Another beneficial aspect of cookies is that they make the online experience more
personalized. For instance, e-commerce-based websites make use of cookies to remember
items left in a cart, even if a user has exited their website (Pilton et al., 2021). It can also
provide product recommendations from previous browsing behavior. Thus, the user can get
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relevant items in no time (Tsohou & Kosta, 2017). The personalized experience in shopping
saves users a great deal of time and contributes toward sales, initiating a mutually beneficial
circle between consumers and businesses.
Thirdly, cookies are part of the economic model of the internet because, through them,
the free content is supported by targeted advertising. Most online content is paid for by
advertisements, and cookies help advertisers reach the right audience, thereby making ad
campaigns more effective (Pilton et al., 2021). Without cookies, many websites might need to
shift to paywall models, rendering the internet less accessible (Pilton et al., 2021). In this
way, cookies make free resources possible, from news to educational content, while helping
advertisers and content creators reach their audiences.
Despite these advantages, cookies do involve serious privacy risks. Many websites are
into the practice of deploying third-party cookies that track users across multiple sites,
coming up with detailed profiles of individual browsing behaviors (Veale et al., 2018). This is
shared many times with advertisers or sold to data brokers, thus compromising user privacy.
In practice, users seldom know what this tracking entails, while consent forms usually ensure
it is easy to opt in and hard to opt out (Veale et al., 2018). The more sensitive the data that can
be stored in the cookies adds to the hazard of exposure in case of a breach. Much more
stringent regulations are called for regarding the collection, sharing, and storing of data,
considering how intrusive third-party cookies can be. That way, users maintain control over
their private information.
Although cookies greatly help in enhancing user experience, and providing
personalization and content for free, they equally breach privacy. The tracking of cookies
does have wider ramifications and does call for more stringent regulations to bring
transparency to their use. There needs to be a balance between convenience and privacy in
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this world of ever-growing dependence on digital data while protecting the rights of the users.
Society will be able to move toward a more privacy-conscious internet, when there are firmer
and more enforceable rules on cookie consent and the use of data, without sacrificing
functionality that cookies make possible.
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References
Pilton, C., Faily, S., & Henriksen-Bulmer, J. (2021). Evaluating privacy - determining user
privacy expectations on the web. Computers & Security, 105(105), 102241.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2021.102241
Tsohou, A., & Kosta, E. (2017). Enabling valid informed consent for location tracking
through privacy awareness of users: A process theory. Computer Law & Security
Review, 33(4), 434–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2017.03.027
Veale, M., Binns, R., & Ausloos, J. (2018). When data protection by design and data subject
rights clash. International Data Privacy Law, 8(2), 105–123.
https://doi.org/10.1093/idpl/ipy002
Octobre 28, 2024
24/7 custom essay writing by real academic writers
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Academic level:
Graduate
Type of paper:
Argumentative essay
Discipline:
Information Technology
Citation:
APA
Pages:
2 (550 words)
* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.
