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Published: Jan. 3, 2019, 9:39 a.m.

Data Driven Daily Tip 226. So I know that if you're a marketer or small business owner running any kind of Facebook Ads, using the Facebook Pixel, you're confused AF by this email you just received sometime around October 5, 2018.

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The email references the fact that starting October 24, 2018, Facebook will be offering businesses the ability to use First-Party Cookies instead of Third-Party Cookies, but WTF?

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It doesn't explain the difference, and it doesn't tell you that if your Facebook Pixel is associated with a Facebook Ads Account, it doesn't matter, you HAVE to use the Third-Party Cookies, but now you also have the option to use First-Party Cookies.

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So in essence, NOTHING REALLY CHANGES.

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All things stay the same for Advertisers using the Pixel. You don't have to do anything, but according to the Facebook Help Center link in the email they sent you, you can do something if you want.

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The options for using cookies with your Facebook pixel are:

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1. Use the Facebook pixel with both first and third-party cookies
   \nBeginning on October 24th, 2018, this is the default option for Facebook pixels. With this option, you will use first-party cookie data with your Facebook pixel, in addition to third-party cookie data. This option is recommended if you use your Facebook pixel for advertising, because using both first and third-party cookies will enable you to reach more customers on Facebook and to be more accurate in measurement and reporting.
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2. Use the Facebook pixel with third-party cookies only
   \nYou can disable first-party cookies and use the Facebook pixel with third-party cookies only. With this option, your Facebook pixel will be less effective in reaching customers on Facebook and less accurate in measurement and reporting.
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Here's HOW you can make your change...

\nHow to check your pixel and cookie settings\n

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1. Log into your Facebook advertising account, and goto Events Managerlocated in the main menu under Measure and Report.
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2. Select your pixel, then click onto Details button on the top right-hand corner to check its settings.
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3. Under Pixel and Cookie Settings, edit or confirm your preferences. If your pixel is associated with an ad account you will not see Pixel Usage settings.
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4. If you choose to edit Pixel Usage, you will have two options: Advertising and Analytics, and Analytics Only.
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But if you run ads, you have to use Third-Party Cookies, so you can't really make any changes.

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So now that we know the email can be disregarded, what do we do with the fact that we now feel the burning need to know the difference between first-party cookies and third-party cookies?

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Well, I'll break it down for you, but I assure you it's really not that exciting.

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First-party cookies are owned by the website a person is currently viewing, while third-party cookies belong to a website other than the one a person is currently viewing. Compared to third-party cookies, first-party cookies are more widely accepted by browsers and stored for longer periods of time.

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First-party cookies allow you to do things like place multiple items in a shopping cart on an eCommerce website.

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Third-party cookies allow you to do the things within Facebook Ads like use your Facebook Pixel to run re-marketing ads to people who have v