January 6, 2026
The Cookie Banner Backlash
Most websites don't need cookie consent banners
Internet says: ditch the pop-ups—blame tracking, not laws
TLDR: Most small sites that avoid third‑party tracking don’t need cookie pop-ups. Commenters clashed: many sites still use Google Analytics and ad pixels, so consent’s required; others slammed dark-pattern banners and said businesses should either stop tracking or be upfront and ask. It matters for user trust and conversions.
Turns out those “Accept Cookies?” pop-ups might be more hype than law. A Mastodon thread argues most small sites don’t need them if they skip creepy trackers, and the crowd brought receipts. One camp cheered: ditch the banners, keep only essential cookies that make the site work. Another camp shot back: if you run Google Analytics or Facebook’s pixel—most do—you absolutely need consent, full stop.
Then the drama: marketers swaggered in saying any “real business” needs behavioral tracking for conversions and personalization, while privacy purists called dark-pattern banners a neon sign that “this company doesn’t respect users.” Some even blamed privacy laws like GDPR for creating mindless “click whatever” fatigue that defeats their own goals. Others nitpicked the sources, pointing out contradictions around first‑party analytics: are they “strictly necessary” or not? Cue the semantic knife fight over what counts as essential.
For U.S. readers, the plot twist: there’s no federal cookie law. Many states use opt‑out rules, meaning you need a clear Privacy Policy, a “Do Not Sell or Share” footer link, and support for Global Privacy Control signals—not necessarily a banner. The community verdict: if you don’t track, skip the pop-up. If you do, own it—and ask.
Key Points
- •Essential cookies used for core site functionality generally do not require consent under EU rules.
- •Tracking and third-party cookies (e.g., Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel) typically require user consent in the EU.
- •The U.S. has no federal cookie consent law; several states regulate data practices via opt-out models.
- •U.S. compliance without banners can include a privacy policy, a “Do Not Sell or Share” link, and honoring Global Privacy Control.
- •The article asserts most small business websites may not need cookie banners if they avoid third-party tracking and data sharing.