The Cookie Conundrum: Navigating Online Privacy, AI, and the Internet’s Fine Print
Why That Facebook Content Disclaimer Is Useless—and How to Take Real Control of Your Online Presence
In our age of digital co-dependency1, the internet has become a peculiar mix of convenience, clutter, and constant consent screens. “This website uses cookies” is a phrase we’ve all encountered—over and over. And yet, if someone could just save me a cookie to remember once and for all to not ever nag me about cookies again, wouldn’t that be revolutionary?2
These endless prompts to accept cookies highlight a bigger issue: the disconnect between privacy laws, user experience, and the ever-evolving internet landscape. It’s just somehow all gotten out of sync, and out of touch. But there’s more to this story than the frustration of endless popups.
The Irony of Cookie Popups
Believe it or not, cookie consent laws were designed to help consumers. The original intent was to give users more control over their data, a praiseworthy goal in an era where tech giants like Facebook and Google seem to use personal information with (almost) zero accountability. Yet the implementation leaves much to be desired. While small websites scramble to implement cookie popups (do we even need to?), the major offenders continue to push the boundaries of data usage.
Interestingly, browsers may soon regulate cookie consent automatically, potentially putting an end to the popups that have plagued the internet. While not dealing with the underlying issue, this change could at least create a more seamless browsing experience without the need for browser extensions. That’s great, but it still won’t address the root issues of privacy and data security.
The Hypocrisy of Big Tech
Consider this: using a YouTube video in a presentation often requires jumping through technical and legal hoops. Usually at least the sound doesn’t work, and were you legally allowed to use this video in your business presentation? The answers aren’t always clear-cut. Meanwhile, companies like Facebook monetize user content without compensating the original creators. Isn’t it time these platforms paid bloggers, publishers, and content creators for the value they bring?3
The imbalance becomes more problematic when you look at how these platforms handle intellectual property. Many websites slap “All Rights Reserved” at the bottom of their pages, even if they’re built with stock photography and AI-generated text. It’s a strange paradox in a world where originality is becoming harder to define.
AI: Friend or Foe of Creativity?
The rise of AI has added another layer of complexity. Tools like ChatGPT can streamline tasks and enhance efficiency, but they also contribute to a further overload of low-quality content, just in case you thought Instagram didn’t contain enough of that already. Much to my surprise, ChatGPT asked me to prove I’m human today. I felt a bit offended, robot. Still, I believe AI can be trained to have a positive role when used to assist human creativity, rather than replace it.
Imagine a world where AI handles the mundane, freeing humans to focus on art, innovation, and meaningful work. Yet here we are—AI generating “art” while humans slog through 9-to-5 routines in corporate cubicles. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
Have You Read Your Own Terms?
Do you read the terms and conditions you agree to online? Most people don’t. We just blindly accept whatever fine print is thrown our way, and sign away right to the content we originally created without even thinking twice.4
If you have your own website, when is the last time you actually read your own terms and conditions? Many website owners haven’t reviewed their own privacy policies. If you’re one of them, it might be time to take a closer look. Are your terms and privacy policies clear, accurate, and up to date? Or are they just a collection of legal jargon copied from somewhere else, which could be a copyright infringement of its own.
When I recently reviewed and updated many of my own websites, I removed a lot of outdated apps and code, significantly improving both privacy ratings and user experience. It’s a simple but effective step that can make a big difference for your visitors.
Get Into Action: Simplify and Strengthen
Privacy laws are essential, but their implementation should focus on real offenders rather than burdening small websites and their (small business) owners.5 Small is mighty, so by reviewing and improving your own site’s privacy practices, you can create a better experience for your audience while staying compliant.
In the end, the internet is what we make of it. Whether it’s through better privacy practices, responsible AI usage, or advocating for fair compensation for creators, small changes can lead to big improvements.6
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Further reading
Co-dependency is not formally recognized as a clinical diagnosis, but often cited as a behavioural pattern in relationships where one person excessively relies on another for emotional support, validation, or a sense of identity, often to the detriment of their own well-being. It commonly involves enabling behaviors and a lack of healthy boundaries, leading to an imbalance in the relationship. Nice to meet you, social media algorithms.
I’ve recently added Hush as an extension to my Safari browser, which so far appears to reduce quite a bit of the clutter. In addition, I often use Windscribe VPN which helps me block ads and trackers to create a “cleaner” browsing experience.
If you’ve ever posted anything to Facebook: you are a content creator, as the social media network graciously places ads surrounding your family pictures. If you don’t like this model, take a look at my social media course explaining how to “reverse the stream”.
Contrary to popular belief, posting a disclaimer on Facebook claiming the platform doesn’t own your content is pointless. By using Facebook, you’ve already agreed to their terms and conditions, which grant them a license to use (and monetize) your content while you’re on the platform. This license doesn’t transfer ownership—it simply allows Facebook to display and share your posts as intended (surrounded with ads). If you’re concerned, review the terms you agreed to, but posting a public statement won’t change what you already agreed to.
I’ve tested many website builders over the years, and Leadpages stands out as one that actually delivers on its promise of ease of use. My personal website runs entirely on the platform. Check it out when you have the chance.
This blog post isn’t legal advice—consult a professional for guidance tailored to your business.