Cookie Policy

Overview

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. Similar technologies — such as local storage, session storage, and pixels — can serve comparable purposes. Together, we refer to these as “cookies and similar technologies.”

This Cookie Policy explains how Wide Reads (“we,” “our,” or “us”) uses cookies and similar technologies on widereads.com (the “Site”). It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.

We use cookies to keep the Site working, understand how it is used, and — on certain long-form reading pages — serve advertising. We do not sell your personal information. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle personal data.

How We Categorize Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for core Site functions such as secure login, session maintenance, and fraud prevention. They cannot be switched off in our systems without breaking those features.

If you block strictly necessary cookies, account features (bookmarks, reading history, subscriptions) may not work correctly.

Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us measure traffic and understand how visitors use the Site so we can improve content and navigation. Data is aggregated for reporting; we use it to improve the Site, not to sell personal profiles.

We also use Vercel Web Analytics, which is designed to operate without third-party marketing cookies. It collects anonymized page-view data to monitor performance and reliability.

Advertising Cookies

On selected long-form pages — such as chapter reads, theme guides, and similar content — we may load Google AdSense. AdSense and its partners may set cookies to deliver ads, limit how often you see an ad, and measure ad performance.

We deliberately keep primary landing pages ad-free, including the home page, library index, individual book hub pages, and main Paradox landing heroes. See our Editorial Standards for how advertising relates to editorial decisions.

Advertising cookies are set by third parties. We do not control every cookie name or duration, which can change as ad technology evolves.

Payment and Checkout Cookies

If you subscribe or manage billing through Stripe, Stripe may set cookies or similar identifiers during checkout and customer-portal sessions to process payments securely and prevent fraud. These appear only when you interact with payment flows.

Third-Party Services

Third parties that may set cookies or collect data through the Site include:

• Google Analytics — usage measurement (Google Privacy Policy)
• Google AdSense — display advertising on eligible pages (How Google uses cookies in advertising)
• Supabase — authentication and account data for signed-in users (Supabase Privacy Policy)
• Stripe — payment processing for subscriptions (Stripe Privacy Policy)
• Vercel — hosting and privacy-oriented web analytics (Vercel Privacy Policy)

Local Storage and Similar Technologies

In addition to cookies, the Site may store small amounts of data in your browser using local storage or session storage. Unlike cookies, this data is not sent automatically with every request.

• Account-related features: Some signed-in preferences and progress may be stored server-side (Supabase) rather than in browser cookies.
• Limited local storage: Certain pages may store non-sensitive values locally — for example, to remember an early-access email gate on a specific book launch page.
• Admin tools: Internal admin dashboards may cache non-personal audit data locally for convenience; this does not apply to general visitors.

You can clear local storage through your browser settings in the same area where you manage cookies.

How to Manage Cookies

Browser Settings

Most browsers let you view, delete, or block cookies. You can usually:

• Delete all cookies or cookies from specific sites
• Block third-party cookies while allowing first-party cookies
• Clear local storage and session storage
• Set site-specific exceptions

Blocking or deleting cookies may affect Site functionality — especially account login, bookmarks, and reading history.

Browser-Specific Instructions

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Third-party cookies
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies

Opt-Out Tools

You can limit certain third-party tracking and advertising cookies using these tools:

• Google Analytics: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Google ad personalization: Google Ads Settings
• Industry opt-out (US): Network Advertising Initiative and Digital Advertising Alliance
• Industry opt-out (EU/UK): Your Online Choices (EU)

Regional Notice

Visitors in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and similar jurisdictions may have additional rights regarding non-essential cookies. We ask for your consent before enabling analytics and advertising cookies through the cookie banner on your first visit.

You can change your choice anytime using Cookie Settings in the site footer. Essential cookies (such as sign-in sessions) remain active so the Site can function.

Do Not Track

Some browsers send a “Do Not Track” (DNT) signal. There is no universal industry standard for responding to DNT. At this time, we do not alter our practices solely because a DNT signal is present.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when we add services, change ad or analytics providers, or when laws or our practices change. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

Contact Us

Questions about cookies or similar technologies on Wide Reads:

Email: privacy@widereads.com