Cookies are small text files that websites place on your computer to remember information about you and your preferences. When it comes to online learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning, cookies play a crucial role in personalizing your experience and ensuring the platform functions effectively. However, it’s important to understand that not all cookies are set directly by LinkedIn Learning. Third-party cookies are also used in connection with their services, and knowing how these work is key to managing your privacy and user experience.
How Third-Party Cookies Operate on LinkedIn Learning
Third-party cookies on LinkedIn Learning are set by entities other than LinkedIn itself. These third parties can include partners, service providers, and even advertisers. They utilize these cookies for various reasons, often related to marketing and service functionality.
For instance, you might encounter third-party cookies on LinkedIn pages that host LinkedIn Learning content, within job postings linked from learning paths, or in advertisements for LinkedIn Learning displayed both on and off the LinkedIn platform. These cookies can track your interactions to help these third parties understand ad performance or to tailor content to your interests. LinkedIn’s Help Center provides further details on how cookies are generally used across their services, offering a broader context to this practice.
Furthermore, third-party cookies are also employed in connection with LinkedIn’s off-site services, such as their advertising network. This means that your browsing activity outside of LinkedIn can be influenced by cookies set by LinkedIn’s partners, aiming to deliver more relevant ads to you. In essence, these third-party cookies are tools that help LinkedIn and its partners provide and analyze their services, including marketing efforts and user research.
Your Choices and Control Over Cookies on LinkedIn Learning
You have several options to manage how LinkedIn Learning and third parties use cookies. It’s crucial to remember that limiting cookies might affect your user experience on the platform, potentially reducing personalization and requiring you to re-enter login details or preferences more frequently.
Opting Out of Targeted Advertising
If you are concerned about personalized advertisements, LinkedIn provides settings to manage this directly. As outlined in LinkedIn’s Privacy Policy, you have control over the ads you see.
LinkedIn members can adjust their advertising preferences directly within their account settings. For users who are visitors and not logged into a LinkedIn account, there are also visitor controls available to manage retargeting preferences. These controls allow you to opt out of personalized advertising based on your interests and browsing behavior.
Moreover, mobile operating systems, like Android, offer controls over the use of mobile advertising IDs for ad personalization. Consulting your device manufacturer’s website will provide instructions on how to utilize these settings. It’s worth noting that LinkedIn does not use iOS mobile advertising IDs for targeted advertising.
Browser Cookie Controls
Web browsers are equipped with settings that allow you to manage cookies. You can configure your browser to accept, reject, or selectively allow cookies. These settings provide you with granular control over cookie usage, aligning with your consent preferences. Browsers also typically offer the functionality to review and delete existing cookies, including those set by LinkedIn and third parties. Refer to your browser’s documentation for specific instructions on managing cookie settings.
Understanding “Do Not Track” (DNT)
“Do Not Track” (DNT) is a concept advocated by regulatory bodies like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It aims to empower internet users to prevent the tracking of their online activities across different websites through browser settings. However, it’s important to note that LinkedIn, in general, does not automatically respond to “do not track” signals from browsers. Therefore, relying solely on DNT signals may not be sufficient to fully manage cookie preferences on LinkedIn Learning.
In conclusion, while third-party cookies are integral to how LinkedIn Learning and its partners deliver services and personalize experiences, you are not without control. By understanding how these cookies function and utilizing the settings provided by LinkedIn and your browser, you can effectively manage your privacy and tailor your experience on the platform.
