[draw_down]

Honest question: Where do people think those cookie banners come from?

Because, they aren't a dark pattern. They aren't a sneaky way to try to juice your engagement numbers. They didn't show up everywhere because growth hackers started getting jealous of the other guy's cookie banner. They are literally required by law, or at least many lawyers interpret the law in that way. The designers at my work really didn't want to make one, and especially didn't want it added to our site.

Nobody likes them. They came from lawyers.

[saagarjha]

Cookie banners are only really required if you're doing things like using them for "personalizing ads" and the like. If your cookies just there to check if you're logged in and other essential functions, you don't need a banner.

[jrochkind1]

Please tell that to my Communications department. If they believe you, I'll owe you lots of beers.

I'd guess the thinking is "Well, I don't really understand those requirements and it's hard to be sure if we meet them, safest just to put the banner on." And "Well, if we don't need it, how come all these OTHER sites have it? You really think they're all wrong and you're right? What, are you a fancy pants lawyer now?"

"Cover your ass" is the main driving force of most of America.

[scarejunba]

What about if you want to A/B test on a non-logged-in user?

[stonogo]

E-mail them and ask them nicely to volunteer for your research study. Agency's a bitch when someone else has it, eh?

[scarejunba]

Email a non-logged-in user? No, thanks. Please respect people's privacy.

[sgt]

Well said. I think a lot of people aren't aware of this.