(Last Updated on 23rd January, 2021)
Our Privacy Policy explains our principles when it comes to the collection, processing, and storage of your information. This policy specifically explains how we, our partners, and users of our services deploy cookies, as well as the options you have to control them.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of data, stored in text files, that are stored on your computer or other device when websites are loaded in a browser. They are widely used to “remember” you and your preferences, either for a single visit (through a “session cookie”) or for multiple repeat visits (using a “persistent cookie”). They ensure a consistent and efficient experience for visitors, and perform essential functions such as allowing users to register and remain logged in. Cookies may be set by the site that you are visiting (known as “first party cookies”), or by third parties, such as those who serve content or provide advertising or analytics services on the website (“third party cookies”). Both websites and HTML emails may also contain other tracking technologies such as “web beacons” or “pixels.” These are typically small transparent images that provide us with statistics, for similar purposes as cookies. They are often used in conjunction with cookies, though they are not stored on your computer in the same way. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted.
How we use cookies
We use cookies for a number of different purposes. Some cookies are necessary for technical reasons; some enable a personalized experience for both visitors and registered users; and some allow the display of advertising from selected third party networks. Some of these cookies may be set when a page is loaded, or when a visitor takes a particular action.
Types of Cookie
The table below explains the types of cookies we use on our website and why we use them.
| Category of cookies | Why we use these cookies |
|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | These cookies are essential for websites on our services to perform their basic functions. These include those required to allow registered users to authenticate and perform account related functions, as well as to save the contents of virtual “carts” on sites that have an ecommerce functionality. |
| Functionality | These cookies are used to store preferences set by users such as account name, language, and location. |
| Security | We use these cookies to help identify and prevent potential security risks. |
| Analytics and Performance | Performance cookies collect information on how users interact with our websites, including what pages are visited most, as well as other analytical data. We use these details to improve how our websites function and to understand how users interact with them. |
| Advertising | These cookies are used to display relevant advertising to visitors who use our services or visit websites we host or provide, as well as to understand and report on the efficacy of ads served on our websites. They track details such as the number of unique visitors, the number of times particular ads have been displayed, and the number of clicks the ads have received. They are also used to build user profiles, including showing you ads based on products you’ve viewed or acts you have taken on our (and other) websites. These are set by Automattic and trusted third party networks, and are generally persistent in nature. |
| Third Party / Embedded Content | Sites hosted on WordPress.com make use of different third party applications and services to enhance the experience of website visitors. These include social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter (through the use of sharing buttons), or embedded content from Youtube and Vimeo. As a result, cookies may be set by these third parties, and used by them to track your online activity. We have no direct control over the information that is collected by these cookies. |
Examples
Advertising
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ads | Tracks if a visitor has clicked an ad before. |
| lr_nw | Counts and tracks pageviews on Longreads.com. Used to determine whether or not to show our Membership popup message. |
| wordpress_eli | Reduces the display of ads for repeat visitors. |
Analytics and Performance
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| __pdvt | Used in log of Polldaddy survey data to aid in debugging customer problems |
| _hjIncludedInSample | |
| mp_6d7c50ad560e01715a871a117a2fbd90_mixpanel | |
| optimizelyBuckets | |
| optimizelyEndUserId | |
| __hstc | |
| hubspotutk | |
| optimizelySegments | Gathers information that helps us understand how visitors interact with our websites, which allows us to create a better visitor experience. |
| ab | Used for “AB testing” of new features. |
| nux_flow_name | Identifies which user signup flow was shown to the user. |
| tk_ni / tk_ai / tk_qs | Gathers information for our own, first party analytics tool about how our services are used. A collection of internal metrics for user activity, used to improve user experience. |
| wp-affiliate-tracker | Remembers the ID of the affiliate that referred the current user to WordPress.com |
| utma / utmb / utmc / utmt / utmz / ga / gat / gid | Google Analytics. Gathers information that helps us understand how visitors interact with our websites, which allow us to create a better experience for our visitors. Our users may also implement Google Analytics on their own websites. |
Functionality
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| __stripe_sid / __stripe_mid | For processing payment and to aid in fraud detection. |
| _longreads_prod_new | Authentication for Longreads.com Member accounts. Only active when logged in, on *.longreads.com domains. |
| akm_mobile | Stores whether a user has chosen to view the mobile version of a website. |
| botdlang | Used to track the language a user has selected to view popular blogs in. |
| landingpage_currency | Defines the currency displayed in WordPress.com landing pages. |
| pd_dashboard | Records last used folder in Polldaddy dashboard so it can be reopened upon user’s next visit. |
| PD_USER_AUTH | Login cookie used to identify Polldaddy user. |
| wordpress_logged_in* | Checks whether or not the current visitor is a logged in WordPress.com user. |
| wp-settings-{user_id} | Persists a user’s wp-admin configuration. |
| wp_sharing_{id} | Tracks whether or not a user has already performed an action. |
Security
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| csrftoken | Python/Ajax security cookie used on accounts.longreads.com. |
Strictly Necessary
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
| country_code | Used in order to determine whether or not the cookie banner should be shown. Set immediately on page load and retained for 6 hours to remember the visitor’s country. |
| sensitive_pixel_option | Remembers the state of visitor acceptance to the cookie banner. Only set when the visitor clicks Accept. |
| twostep_auth | Set when the user is logged in using two factor authentication. |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Checks if cookies are enabled to provide appropriate user experience. |
Advertisements from Third Parties Through Automattic’s Ads Program
Mobile Theme
| Cookie Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| akm_mobile | Remembers whether or not a user wishes to view the mobile version of a site. |
Subscriptions
| Cookie Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| jetpack_comments_subscribe_{HASH} | Remembers the state of the post and comment subscription checkboxes. |
| jetpack_blog_subscribe_{HASH} | Remembers the state of the post and comment subscription checkboxes. |
Jetpack Cookies
For more details please see https://jetpack.com/support/cookies/.
Jetpack Comments
| Cookie Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| comment_author_{HASH} | Remembers the value entered into the comment form’s name field. Specific to the site from which it is set. This cookie mirrors one set by the core WordPress software for commenting purposes. |
| comment_author_email_{HASH} | Remembers the value entered into the comment form’s email field. Specific to the site from which it is set. This cookie mirrors one set by the core WordPress software for commenting purposes. |
| comment_author_url_{HASH} | Remembers the value entered into the comment form’s URL field. Specific to the site from which it is set. This cookie mirrors one set by the core WordPress software for commenting purposes |
Controlling Cookies
Visitors may wish to restrict the use of cookies or completely prevent them from being set. Most browsers provide for ways to control cookie behavior such as the length of time they are stored – either through built-in functionality or by utilizing third party plugins. If you disable cookies, please be aware that some of the features of our service may not function correctly. To find out more on how to manage and delete cookies, visit aboutcookies.org. For more details on your choices regarding use of your web browsing activity for interest-based advertising visit youronlinechoices.eu (EU based) or optout.aboutads.info (US based).
On a mobile device, you may also be to adjust your settings to limit tracking.
Our Internal Analytics Tool
In order to better understand how our services are used, we monitor certain user activities that take place within our products, including page views and clicks on any links used when managing a site via our dashboards. We call each one of these actions an “event.” In general, we record the following data for each event: IP address, user agent, referring URL, timestamp of event, browser language, and country code. We use this information to improve our products, make our marketing to you more relevant, personalize your experience, and for the other purposes described in our Privacy Policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, you can find the most relevant contact details in our Privacy Policy.