Loading...

Cookie deprecation: What marketers need to know to stay connected in a cookieless world

Published: March 26, 2024 by Experian Marketing Services

At A Glance

Google’s third-party cookie deprecation plans are on hold, but privacy expectations continue to rise. Marketers still need identity-based, data-responsible solutions to understand and reach audiences effectively. Experian® helps brands stay connected through privacy-first identity, data collaboration, and measurement solutions that perform across channels, with or without cookies.


The marketing world has been preparing for years for the end of third-party cookies, and the news has shifted again. In 2025, Google paused its plan to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome, opting instead to introduce new privacy controls that let users manage how their data is shared. Even with this change, one truth remains: privacy-first; identity-driven marketing is no longer optional. For marketers, it’s about moving beyond reliance on cookies toward durable strategies built on trust, consent, and connected data.

What is cookie deprecation?

Cookie deprecation refers to browsers ending support for third-party cookies, which have long allowed advertisers to track user activity across multiple websites. These cookies were the foundation of behavioral targeting and attribution. By contrast, first-party cookies, created by a brand’s own website, will continue to function. They store essential information like logins or preferences and are central to modern data collection strategies.

The change aims to improve privacy and transparency, giving users more control over their information. For marketers, it represents a shift from broad tracking to consented, identity-based engagement.

Experian’s view: While third-party cookies may linger longer than expected, identity should remain the cornerstone of every marketing strategy.

Why is cookie deprecation reshaping the industry?

The shift toward privacy-first marketing didn’t begin with Google, but Chrome’s decision to limit third-party cookies has amplified the impact. Safari and Firefox removed third-party tracking years ago, but Chrome’s dominance, with roughly 65 percent of the global browser market, makes its shift a defining moment for advertisers.

The platform response

Google’s Privacy Sandbox initiative and new user privacy control interface aim to balance personalization with user protection. These updates mark a shift toward data transparency rather than full deprecation.

Experian supports this evolution by helping marketers adapt through privacy-led identity, data collaboration, and measurement solutions that meet compliance standards while maintaining addressability and performance across channels.

How will cookie deprecation affect marketers?

Marketers will notice several shifts:

  • Less cross-site visibility: Without third-party cookies, connecting behavior across websites becomes difficult, making it harder to attribute conversions.
  • Greater dependence on first-party data: Data collected directly from consumers (emails, preferences, purchase history) will be crucial for targeting and measurement.
  • Increased adoption of alternative IDs: Solutions like Experian’s alternative IDs help maintain addressability and measurement in a cookieless world.
  • Renewed focus on contextual advertising: Relevance now depends on where an ad appears rather than who sees it.
  • New compliance expectations: Marketers must prove transparency and respect for consent under tightening global privacy laws.

What challenges should marketers expect with cookie deprecation?

Marketers face both operational and strategic hurdles as third-party cookies lose value.

Addressability and targeting gaps

Without universal identifiers, reaching audiences across channels becomes fragmented. Advertisers must unify data from CRM systems, mobile apps, and offline touchpoints to maintain reach.

Measurement and attribution complexity

As cookies disappear, so do last-click and view-through models. Solutions must rely on first-party data and probabilistic modeling to evaluate performance.

Privacy and consent management

Data collection now requires clear opt-ins, user control interfaces, and secure consent management systems that align with IAB standards.

Resource and skill constraints

Testing new identity and data solutions can be costly. Smaller teams may struggle to integrate clean rooms, universal IDs, or new reporting APIs.

Experian’s role: Experian supports marketers through this transition with privacy-compliant data infrastructure, identity graphs, and measurement tools that work across every major platform.

How can marketers adapt to a cookieless future?

Cookies may still exist, but durable identity strategies are the future of digital marketing. Here’s how to prepare:

  • Use first-party data: Collect information directly from your customers through loyalty programs, preference centers, and interactive content.
    Invest in analytics that translate this data into insight.
  • Establish a trusted identity foundation: Experian’s Digital Graph connects more than 4.2 billion digital identifiers, linking households and devices in privacy-compliant ways. That means marketers can expand their addressable reach and understand audiences without relying on cookies. Experian’s data-collaboration solutions let you combine your first-party data with partner insights securely, unlocking deeper audience understanding.
  • Explore alternative targeting technologies: Contextual methods powered by Experian’s data accuracy ranked #1 by Truthset, help you maintain personalization while respecting privacy.

See how Experian’s identity resolution and data collaboration solutions can help you adapt in a cookieless world.

What are the best practices for post-cookie marketing?

  1. Be transparent: Make consent simple and clear, and show how data adds value. Experian helps brands maintain transparency through privacy-first data solutions built on consented consumer information.
  2. Prioritize data quality: High-quality, verified data builds confidence and improves ROI. Experian’s accurate and validated data assets ensure marketers reach real people with relevant messages.
  3. Choose the right partners: Work with technology providers like Experian that support privacy regulations and enable interoperability across platforms.
  4. Keep the customer experience central: Relevance and respect earn long-term loyalty, values embedded in Experian’s approach to responsible marketing.

What does the future look like for advertising without cookies?

The end of cookies isn’t the end of personalization. It’s a chance to design advertising that earns consumer trust. Marketers who connect data responsibly and measure real outcomes will outperform those chasing outdated identifiers.

Experian already helps global brands build this future through:

Learn how Experian can help you thrive after cookie deprecation

Cookie deprecation changes how digital marketing works, but it doesn’t erase the value of data. With Experian’s identity, connectivity, and trust-based solutions, you can continue reaching audiences effectively and measure what matters.

Explore how Experian can help you connect confidently in a cookieless world

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.


FAQs

What is cookie deprecation?

Cookie deprecation refers to browsers ending support for third-party cookies, which track users across sites. This shift promotes greater privacy and transparency while encouraging marketers to use first-party and identity-based data for targeting and measurement.

Why is Google Chrome phasing out third-party cookies, and what’s changed recently?

As of September 2025, Google paused its plan to fully deprecate third-party cookies in Chrome. The company will introduce new user privacy controls that allow individuals to choose how their data is shared, while continuing to test privacy-preserving APIs through its Privacy Sandbox.

Which browsers are affected by third-party cookie deprecation?

Safari and Firefox already block third-party cookies, and other browsers have adopted similar restrictions. While Chrome’s deprecation is paused, its large user base, more than 60 percent of global traffic, means its future policies will continue to influence how marketers plan and measure campaigns. 

How should marketers adapt to third-party cookie deprecation? 

Even with Google’s pause, marketers should keep building privacy-first strategies. Focus on:
– Strengthening first-party data through loyalty programs and preference centers.
– Using Experian’s Digital Graph to connect audiences across devices and environments.
– Activating with Consumer Sync® for consistent, privacy-safe engagement.
– Collaborating securely through Experian’s data collaboration solutions, which allow brands to share insights responsibly.


Latest posts

Loading…
A deep dive with an Experian partner, Yieldmo

In our Ask the Expert Series, we interview leaders from our partner organizations who are helping lead their brands to new heights in AdTech. Today’s interview is with Eric Shiffman, VP of Product Marketing at Yieldmo.  Here are five key takeaways from Eric’s insights: Tailored campaigns with Experian data: Yieldmo integrates Experian’s trusted identity and audience data to deliver creative campaigns tailored to specific audiences, ensuring more meaningful engagement.  Omnichannel activation made easy: Experian’s data marketplace helps Yieldmo expand its reach across display, mobile, and CTV, creating seamless cross-channel advertising strategies.  Advanced targeting and insights: The combination of Yieldmo’s attention signals and Experian’s identity solutions allows advertisers to pinpoint audiences with precision and confidence.  Driving results in key verticals: Retail, CPG, and automotive campaigns use Experian data on Yieldmo’s platform to achieve improved personalization, targeting accuracy, and measurable outcomes.  Scalable and privacy-conscious advertising: Yieldmo’s partnership with Experian ensures scalable solutions that balance advanced targeting with privacy-focused practices, benefiting advertisers across all industries.  About Yieldmo Yieldmo often describes itself as ‘the creative and media results company,’ using a predictive, provocative, and proven approach. Could you give us a brief overview of how this vision shaped the company and how you differentiate yourselves in ad tech?  Yieldmo was built on the belief that every ad experience should be as engaging and human centered as the content around it. By merging creative excellence with advanced technology and AI, we enable advertisers to deliver custom ad formats that spark emotion and inspire action. Our proprietary attention signals and predictive format selection allow brands to optimize for outcomes before impressions are served. This approach, combined with privacy-safe inventory curation, ensures that our solutions stand out in their ability to deliver both creativity and results.  Creative and inventory performance You’re known for delivering premium experiences across top-tier publishers. What strategies or innovations does Yieldmo employ to boost creative performance, increase engagement, and optimize inventory for your partners?  At Yieldmo, we emphasize the fusion of creative and media. We utilize predictive AI and a vast dataset to generate, customize, and match creatives with the right audiences and page contexts, enabling proven performance and learnings. On the supply side, we elevate publisher inventory by aligning high-quality ads with relevant content in innovative, non-intrusive creative formats. This dual focus ensures that every impression is primed for engagement, delivering tangible value to advertisers and optimal monetization for publishers.  Partnership with Experian As a partner of Experian, how do our identity and audience data complement Yieldmo’s platform, and why do you see this collaboration particularly beneficial for the broader advertising industry?  Experian’s robust identity and audience data ​strengthen Yieldmo’s ability to serve precisely tailored creative experiences. By integrating Experian’s insights with our proprietary attention signals and AI-driven predictive systems, we can ​optimize ​audience targeting and engagement strategies. This​ partnership represents​ the advancement of outcome​-driven advertising while giving brands the confidence of reaching the right consumers in meaningful ways.  Interest in Experian's data marketplace Experian recently introduced a new data marketplace aimed at simplifying data partner audience activation across display, mobile, and CTV. Which elements of this offering are most exciting from your perspective, and how do you anticipate it shaping Yieldmo’s solutions?  The unified approach of Experian’s data marketplace to streamline audience activation aligns seamlessly with Yieldmo’s vision of delivering data-driven creative optimization. The ability to activate comprehensive data sets across multiple channels​ expands​​ ​our omnichannel solutions, bringing precision and scalability to advertisers. Lately, we have focused resources on delivering thoughtful, cross-channel creative experiences, so aligning audiences to those is a logical extension.   Verticals using third-party data From your experience, which verticals or industries are most likely to activate third-party data campaigns on Yieldmo’s platform, and have you observed any emerging trends in how advertisers use data from Experian or other providers?  The retail,​ CPG, and automotive industries have been leading adopters of third-party data, using it to fine-tune targeting and personalize their messaging. Recently, we’ve noticed a shift toward bringing more post campaign measurement insights to the supply side–brand lift, foot traffic, conversion–for better optimization, whereas historically this valuable dataset was trapped in buy-side platforms.   Data utilization and success stories Could you share how Yieldmo’s data-driven approach has evolved and any standout success stories that highlight your platform’s impact and value to partners?  Yieldmo has always prioritized data to inform creative decisioning, from predictive ad placements to real-time optimization. In this award-winning Humane Society case study, we utilized media curation and predictive creative to drive a >170% CTR increase, 5x the campaign benchmark, leading to more page visits and donations.   Thanks for the interview. Any recommendations for our readers if they want to learn more? To learn more about our solutions and partnership opportunities, visit the Yieldmo website or contact your Experian account representative to schedule your free match test.  Contact us About our expert Eric Shiffman, Vice President of Product Marketing, Yieldmo Eric Shiffman is a product marketing leader with extensive experience in advertising technology. At Yieldmo, he drives strategies that blend AI, creative optimization, and privacy-conscious solutions to deliver measurable creative and media results. Eric ​translates​​ ​complex technologies into actionable messaging, positioning, and insights, and evangelizing products and solutions. His expertise spans creative optimization, data-driven advertising, CTV, and audience solutions.  Latest posts

Feb 04,2025 by Experian Marketing Services

How the buy-side is approaching data and identity challenges

Originally appeared in Streaming Media Magazine Navigating today’s fragmented, privacy-conscious media landscape is a bit like stepping into a dense jungle. The buy-side—marketers, agencies, and demand-side platforms (DSPs)—must find their way through signal loss, measurement challenges, and evolving consumer expectations. But this isn’t just a challenge; it’s a strategic opportunity. Let’s dive into how buy-side players can use Experian’s advanced data and identity solutions to be their guide through the jungle and emerge as winners. Marketers: Maintaining personalization and measurement across channels Marketers are navigating an increasingly fragmented media jungle, where the deprecation of signals like cookies, mobile ad IDs (MAIDs), and IP addresses makes finding and understanding audiences feel like guesswork. To chart a clear path, marketers need a reliable compass—and identity resolution provides exactly that. A strong identity provider, grounded in offline data like names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails, acts as a guide through the chaos. By connecting offline signals with digital identifiers in a privacy-first manner, marketers can uncover the relationships between households and devices, then enrich those profiles with valuable marketing data. With a complete view of your customers, you gain deeper insights and can seamlessly reach the right audience across channels—even as signals evolve. It’s a marketer’s North Star—constant, dependable, and always pointing you in the right direction. How Experian can help Imagine a financial services brand aiming to connect with high-net-worth individuals across today’s fragmented media world. They’ve excelled on social and search but now want to dive into connected TV (CTV) and other emerging channels. Enter Experian’s Digital Graph. By seamlessly connecting digital identifiers like MAIDs, CTV IDs and hashed emails (HEMs), our graph becomes the bridge that unifies their audience across every channel. Suddenly, the same audience that saw their ad on social during lunch is now watching a personalized spot on CTV that evening, all thanks to Experian. The result? A cohesive campaign that delivers hyper-relevant messages, stronger engagement, and measurable success. With Experian, fragmentation becomes connection, and personalization stays powerful across the entire media landscape. Agencies: Strategic partners in a fragmented world Agencies are the architects of the identity jungle, building bridges that guide brands through fragmentation and deliver campaign success. Thriving in this terrain requires data solutions that create actionable insights, enable personalization, and drive measurable outcomes. To meet marketers’ demands, many agencies have invested heavily—acquiring data companies or forging strategic partnerships to strengthen their foundations in data and identity solutions. These investments help them connect fragmented audience data and unlock new opportunities for their clients. But even with in-house capabilities, agencies often need more—more attributes, more integrations, and greater connectivity. In the jungle of identity, success isn’t just about building better data assets; it’s about ensuring those assets can be utilized across platforms. How Experian can help Picture a large independent agency ready to step up its game—expanding beyond its middle-market niche to attract enterprise-level clients. But to play in the big leagues, they need more than a solid strategy; they need data and identity solutions that deliver a competitive edge. Enter Experian. With our rich identity graph and deep customer insights, the agency can unlock new opportunities for its clients. Imagine offering enterprises the ability to connect fragmented audience data, create hyper-targeted campaigns, and measure success across every channel. The payoff? The agency doesn’t just win over new enterprise clients; it strengthens relationships with existing customers by proving it can navigate today’s fragmented media landscape with precision and measurable impact. With Experian, the agency becomes an indispensable strategic partner in the data-driven advertising world. DSPs: Navigating signal loss with a multi-ID strategy For DSPs, navigating the identity jungle means forging a path through the winding trails of cookieless strategies. With third-party cookies fading and no single identity solution—like Unified ID 2.0 (UID2)—able to cover all media engagement, DSPs must adapt to a multi-ID world. The challenge is twofold: finding flexible solutions to manage a multitude of identifiers while staying compliant with a growing number of state-level privacy laws. It’s not just a technical problem; it’s a call for strategic vision. And the way to thrive in this ever-changing terrain is to invest in identity solutions that connect digital and offline identifiers to a single customer profile. How Experian can help Imagine a DSP navigating a complex web of identifiers—UID2, HEMs, proprietary IDs—while juggling compliance with evolving privacy laws. Experian steps in as the ultimate connector. Our identity solutions, powered by stable offline data, are signal-agnostic and integrated across the advertising ecosystem. This ensures that DSPs can confidently manage multiple identity frameworks, keeping campaigns targeted, measurable, and compliant. With Experian, DSPs gain more than a stopgap solution; they get a future-proof identity strategy. The result? Better targeting, smoother omnichannel execution, and the strategic edge needed to thrive in a fragmented, multi-ID world. Turning identity challenges into a strategic advantage The identity jungle is a thriving ecosystem for those with the right guide. Experian helps marketers, agencies, and DSPs chart the course by unifying multiple identifiers into a single, complete customer profile. With the right tools (and a good map), buy-side stakeholders can learn more about their customer, reach audiences across channels, and deliver personalized marketing. Read our companion article to learn how the sell-side is approaching data and identity challenges. Read now Get started today Latest posts

Feb 03,2025 by Allison O’Mealia, Head of Customer Success, Demand & Supply Partnerships

Five considerations for the future of consumer connection

We spoke with industry leaders from Ampersand, Basis Technologies, Captify, Cuebiq, CvE, Fetch, Madhive, MiQ, and Samsung to gather insights on how innovations in data and identity are creating stronger consumer connections. Here are five key insights to consider. 1. Build on trust with first-party data Stricter privacy regulations and growing customer expectations mean businesses must rethink how they gather and use data. A robust first-party data strategy centers on gathering high-quality data, such as behavioral and transactional data. By using behavioral, lifestyle, and purchasing data, brands can craft personalized strategies that align with their goals. This approach balances effective targeting with building trust and complying with privacy rules. Integrating identity solutions like Unified I.D. 2.0 (UID2) and ID5 into existing data strategies improves interoperability across platforms while keeping user privacy intact. These tools help create more effective campaigns. "We've been preparing and leaning into educating our clients around the value of first-party data. These are very important and primary considerations in any of our campaigns."April Weeks, Basis Technologies 2. Align metrics with business goals To demonstrate clear value, campaigns need to tie their outcomes to broader goals. Relying only on click-through rates or CPMs won’t cut it. Metrics that measure meaningful results, like driving sales or increasing customer retention, provide greater transparency than surface level data, like clicks or impressions. A continuous feedback loop between targeting and measurement ensures campaigns can be refined to better align with business objectives. This feedback helps marketers understand who they are targeting and how those audiences are driving key business results. Shifting focus to metrics that resonate with stakeholders ensures that marketing efforts are evaluated based on their true contribution to the company's objectives. "The television industry has access to more data than ever before, and at Samsung Ads, our ACR technology helps us provide valuable insights about what content and ads are being viewed. This abundance of data enables us to support clients in aligning their campaigns with business objectives effectively."Justin Evans, Samsung Ads 3. Personalize experiences to boost engagement Personalization drives stronger customer relationships by delivering tailored experiences to individual customer needs. Using data-driven insights to fine-tune offers and messaging makes interactions more relevant, strengthening brand loyalty. Combining behavioral, lifestyle, and transactional data provides a comprehensive understanding of the customer journey and ensures each touchpoint feels personal. Testing and iterating on personalization strategies also helps identify which data and approaches yield the best results. Scaling these efforts means customers receive the right messaging at the right time, and businesses see better outcomes. "Every business should be building a data strategy that thinks about the different versions of data that exist and how they bring that together. They don't necessarily need to own all of it but have a clear rationale and strategy about where you're using which data sets."Paul Frampton, CvE 4. Utilize advanced measurement tools for smarter decisions Improving the effectiveness of campaigns starts with using sophisticated measurement tools to gain actionable insights. Using analytics like brand lift studies, foot traffic analysis, app download tracking, incrementality, and share of search allows marketers to understand the full impact of their efforts. With these resources, teams can pinpoint what’s working, make real-time adjustments, and refine their approach. This adaptability ensures budgets are used as effectively as possible. Learn how Swiss Sense measured marketing outcomes using Mosaic® "We are playing a leading role in democratizing new tools for local advertisers. By mimicking the marketing funnel mentality, we've introduced solutions ranging from measuring brand lift to tracking foot traffic and app downloads."Luc Dumont, Madhive 5. Adapt quickly to stay competitive The only constant in advertising is change. Adapting quickly to new technologies and consumer behaviors keeps businesses competitive. A culture of agility fosters innovation, making it easier to respond to industry shifts and discover new opportunities. Companies that anticipate change and invest in modern data solutions position themselves for long-term growth. Whether it’s adjusting to privacy updates, exploring emerging tech, or staying flexible, businesses must continuously invest in adapting their platforms and strategies. "Falling behind is not really an option. There's always a change in advertising and in data where there's a new horizon. The people who stay close to that and innovate will always follow it."Amelia Waddington, Captify Shaping the future Building meaningful consumer connections requires advertisers to combine robust data strategies with flexibility and innovation. By focusing on these five considerations, marketers can adapt to today’s challenges while preparing for what’s ahead. Connect with our experts Latest posts

Jan 30,2025 by Experian Marketing Services

Subscribe to our newsletter

Enter your name and email for the latest updates

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

About Experian Marketing Services

At Experian Marketing Services, we use data and insights to help brands have more meaningful interactions with people. As leaders in the evolution of the advertising landscape, Experian Marketing Services can help you identify your customers and the right potential customers, uncover the most appropriate communication channels, develop messages that resonate, and measure the effectiveness of marketing activities and campaigns.

Visit our website

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest industry news and receive expert tips from our marketing experts.
Subscribe now!