The phenomenon of ‘accept cookies?’ on the website and digital privacy literacy

The Development of Internet Use in Indonesia

The development of an increasingly massive era encourages the connectedness of the internet in almost every daily activity. In Indonesia, the trend of internet usage continues to show an increase from year to year, internet penetration is increasingly widespread. Based on data from the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers (APJII), the internet penetration rate in Indonesia in 2025 has reached 80 percent. This means that eight out of ten Indonesians are now connected to the internet.

But behind the simple-looking digital routine, there is one phenomenon that almost always appears when someone opens a website, namely a pop-up that reads Approval Cookies. Almost every internet user has found it, a notification asking for approval to accept or reject cookies before resuming access.

What are cookies in the context of a website?

After understanding that almost every site now asks for user approval regarding cookies, the basic question that needs to be answered is, “What exactly is cookies in the context of the internet?” Technically, cookies are small bits of data that are sent to and from the browser to help identify users.

Referring to the explanation from the official Microsoft website, when someone opens a website, the browser will send certain data to the server that manages the site. The data is generally in the form of a series of numbers and letters in a small text file. Whenever a user accesses a new site, the system can create cookies and store them in temporary folders on the device.

This is where the cookies work, matching user preferences based on the habit of reading, viewing, or making transactions. The simple analogy is like a small piece of paper with numbers written as a sign when someone leaves a helmet in a shopping center. The small ticket has no special value, but serves as a marker so that the officer can recognize your belongings when taken back.

Basic functions of cookies

The basic functions of cookies are actually practical and help the user experience. Many digital services use it to ensure the system runs properly. Google, for example, explains that cookies are used to support the fundamental functions of their services. This includes remembering language choices, storing session information such as the content of the shopping cart, running the features that the user requests, and helping the product optimization to remain stable and growing.

Thus, in a basic context, cookies are not something that is automatically dangerous. It is designed to increase the convenience and efficiency of the digital experience. Without cookies, users may have to repeatedly select a language, reset preferences, or even lose the content of the shopping cart when moving pages.

Why should the website ask for approval?

The emergence of “Accept Cookies” notifications on almost every site is not a mere design trend, but is part of the development of global data protection regulations. In the last two decades, the issue of digital privacy has gained serious attention, along with the increasing number of online activities and the rise of data leakage cases.

Since 2002, the European Union has required the website to seek user approval before storing certain cookies on their devices. This regulation was later strengthened through the birth of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a data protection regulation which came into force on May 25, 2018. GDPR is known as one of the most stringent data privacy and security laws in the world.

Although compiled by the European Union, GDPR does not only apply to organizations based in Europe. Any digital company or service that targets or collects data on EU citizens remains obliged to comply with these regulations. One of the main principles in GDPR is the clear consent or consent of the user. Organizations are required to provide transparent information about how they use cookies.

Is “accept all” always safe?

On the one hand, the “Accept All” button does make it easier. Users can directly access the site without the need to manually set preferences. However, the question is, “Is the choice always safe?” The answer is not as simple as “yes” or “no”. In many cases, receiving cookies does not necessarily pose a direct danger. Without cookies, the experience of surfing the internet can be less practical.

However, along with the development of digital technology, the function of cookies is also widespread. Not only storing preferences, cookies are now part of the system of tracking and compiling user behavior profiles (profiling). The phenomenon that is often felt by many people is a simple example, where when someone has just been looking for shoes in an online shop, then similar shoe ads appear on various social media platforms, news applications, and even video services.

Wisely Manage Traces Online

The phenomenon of cookies approval is ultimately not only about technology, but also about digital literacy. In an era when almost all activities take place online, awareness in managing personal data becomes part of modern life skills. Managing the digital footprint does not mean having to reject all existing technology. Instead, users can take practical steps to maintain a balance between comfort and safety.

Some simple steps that can be applied include:
* Clear cache and cookies regularly.
* Use private or incognito mode for sensitive activities.
* Update browsers and applications periodically.
* Avoid password storage in public devices.
* Take advantage of the privacy settings in the browser.

From Just Clicks to Digital Awareness

In the midst of the swift flow of information and online activities, many digital decisions are taken in seconds. One of them is when the user presses the “Accept All” button on the Cookies notification. At first glance, the action seems trivial, just a small step in order to immediately access the desired content. But behind that one click, there is a process of approval of data management that is not always fully realized.

For the younger generation growing in the internet ecosystem, privacy literacy is an important part of the 21st century prowess. Awareness of the right to personal data does not mean having to be suspicious of all technology, but being able to use technology intelligently and responsibly. Understanding the function of cookies, reading privacy settings, and knowing when to accept or reject approval are simple steps that have a long-term impact.