Social Media Cookies

Cookies placed by social media platforms enabling content sharing, social login functionality, and tracking user interactions with social features embedded on websites. Common examples include Facebook Like buttons, Twitter share widgets, and LinkedIn plugins. These cookies typically fall into two categories: functional cookies enabling sharing/login features, and tracking cookies collecting data about browsing behavior for advertising and analytics. Social media cookies raise significant privacy concerns because they enable platforms to track users across websites even when users aren't actively engaging with social features. Under GDPR and ePrivacy Directive, social media cookies generally require consent unless strictly necessary (rarely the case). Organizations embedding social features should: obtain consent before loading social media cookies, use two-click solutions requiring interaction before activating social widgets, clearly explain social media cookie purposes in cookie policies, consider privacy-respecting alternatives, and implement Content Security Policies limiting social media tracking. Website owners remain responsible for third-party cookies, making social media integration a key compliance consideration.