What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) when you visit. They allow the site to remember your actions and preferences over time, so you don't have to re-enter them on every page.
We also use similar technologies — web beacons, pixels, and local storage — for the same purposes. In this policy, "cookies" refers to all of these technologies.
Categories of cookies we use
| Category | Purpose | Opt-out available? |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Required for the Site to function — e.g. remembering that you dismissed the cookie banner, session security. | No — the Site won't work without these. |
| Analytics | Google Analytics 4. Aggregate pseudonymous data on which pages are visited, how visitors arrived, and how the Site performs. | Yes — via cookie banner or GA opt-out. |
| Advertising | Google AdSense (later Mediavine at scale). Serves and measures relevance of display ads shown on some pages. | Yes — via cookie banner or ad settings. |
| Affiliate tracking | Retailer affiliate networks (Amazon Associates, Impact.com, Rakuten) set cookies when you click an affiliate link. Duration varies by network. | Yes — clear cookies or block the domains. |
| Newsletter | Beehiiv sets cookies for logged-in newsletter subscribers to track engagement with newsletter emails. | Yes — unsubscribe. |
Third-party cookies
Some cookies are set by third-party services embedded in our Site. Third-party cookies are governed by the third party's own privacy policy:
- Google Analytics and Google AdSense — Google Privacy Policy
- Amazon Associates — Amazon Privacy Notice
- Impact.com and Rakuten — see each network's privacy policy
- Beehiiv — Beehiiv Privacy Policy
- Pinterest — if you interact with Pinterest widgets or Save buttons, Pinterest Privacy Policy
How to manage cookies
On our Site: A cookie banner appears on your first visit. Use it to accept or reject non-essential cookie categories. You can revisit your choices at any time via the "Cookie preferences" link in the footer.
In your browser: All modern browsers let you view, delete, and block cookies. Instructions for the major browsers:
To opt out of analytics globally: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
To opt out of interest-based advertising: Visit the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out and Your Online Choices (EU).
Impact of blocking cookies
Blocking essential cookies may cause parts of the Site to malfunction. Blocking analytics and advertising cookies has no impact on how the Site works for you — just on how we understand our audience and how we're funded. If you block advertising cookies, you'll still see ads on the pages that display them; they just won't be relevance-targeted.