The cookie bar stirs up a range of emotions. This article will be a short and practical guide on how to set up your bar.
If you’re interested in the topic at large, I highly recommend you check out WP Beer, which covered this topic.
What is a cookie bar?
A cookie bar is a window that pops up when you are on a website for the first time. Within this window you can (dis)agree to the site processing your cookies.
Why is this only being addressed now, it wasn’t needed before?
Yes and no. Cookies haven’t changed in any way. However, new legislation came into force on 1 January 2022 that requires a cookie bar and also adds the possibility of penalties for those who don’t have one on the site.
Should I have a cookie bar on my website?
It depends on what data your site collects. However, if your site has:
- form
- google fonts
- recaptchu
- embedded YouTube videos
- embedded maps…
So your site uses cookies and you should have a bar on your site.
What is the best WordPress plugin for a cookie bar?
The best WordPress cookie plugin is Complianz, which is free and which I use on all my sites (mine and clients).
In the video above you will also find a complete tutorial on how to set up Complianz correctly.
How to lose as little data as possible thanks to the cookie bar
Hardly. If you want to avoid dark patterns, the best option is to hire a technical specialist who understands the issue deeply and can help you with the setup. In the Czech wilderness, such an OG is Vláďa Smitka from the Lynt agency.
What happens if I don’t have a bar and someone reports me?
If you’re a small site, you’re not very likely to get reported. However, it can happen. Most likely, you will then be told by the authorities that your site is missing a cookie bar and given some time to fix it.
If you add the cookie bar in the time allowed, you should not be fined.
Am I at risk of being randomly checked?
The bigger site you are, the more likely this is. However, if you get fewer than 100,000 visitors a month, the chances of you being targeted for a spot check are (in my subjective opinion) slim.
Word in conclusion
The cookie bar is a necessary evil for many sites. Fortunately, it’s a few hours’ work and you’re off the hook. Unfortunately, however, you will lose some analytics data. In the future, they say cookies could be handled at the browser level, so we’ll see.
And let me know in the comments what your experience and opinion on cookies is?
