Do you know what's in those cookies? An analysis of the readability of social media cookie policies

Abstract

Spend any time on the web and you will likely be prompted with a disclosure about cookies. The purpose of this exploratory study is to address the readability of cookie policies by examining a sample of popular social media websites operating in the United States. Flesch Reading Ease index and Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level were used to assess the readability of select social media cookie policies. The results of this study suggest that the cookie policies of these sites are incongruous with the readability requirements for the average U.S. adult. Opportunities for future research to address questions related to coherence as well as the use, function, and purpose of cookies are discussed.