Here's a little test for you. The next time you're going to start browsing the web, right before you go online, open your browser's settings, go to wherever cookies are kept, delete the cookies that are there and change the settings so that you're prompted each time a site you're visting wants to place a cookie on your computer. The results are (to me, anyway) staggering!
Who knew, some of the most common sites, set cookies after cookies after cookies.
Did you think there was one or two per site? Some of the sites that are household names may make 10-12 requests, each request placing as many as 10-12 cookies on your browser.
My god, what do these companies need to know?
Okay, I'm not being alarmist. I am fascinated, though. Consider this cookienation from the site visitor's point of view. Or at least this site visitor's point of view.
I'm that important! After years of not thinking I'm important, of thinking of myself as just another "Joe", I come to realize that what I look at and what click on is so important that as many as 144 separate cookies are needed to follow me around.
Adds a whole new meaning to "Fifteen minutes of fame", doesn't it?
For an extra slice of amusement, pay attention to what loads when you accept (for session) or deny each cookie. Amazing. Truly Amazing!
Please contact NextStage for information regarding presentations and trainings on this and other topics.
Upcoming Conferences:
- Society for New Communications Research Annual Research Symposium & Awards Gala on 5-6 Dec 07 in Boston, presenting "The Blogging Power Continuum: How Bloggers & Their Audiences Share & Assign Power in a Knowledge-Based Medium"
- New Communications Forum 2008 22-25 April 08 in Sonoma Valley, CA
Comment Preview