Cookies and Similar Technologies on Foursquare
Last Updated: January 17, 2022
This Cookie Policy should be read in connection with our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use.
About Cookies and Similar Technologies
Cookies are small pieces of data that are stored on your computer, mobile phone or other devices. They are generally used to remember you and your preferences, for one visit (through a “session cookie”) or multiple visits (using a “persistent cookie”). The cookies that we set are known as “first-party cookies.” Cookies set by third parties, such as companies who serve content, provide advertising or perform analytics are known as “third party cookies.” You can learn more about cookies at All About Cookies.
Both websites and HTML emails may also contain other tracking technologies such as web beacons or pixels. Web beacons and pixels are small blocks of code on web pages and in emails that enable us to perform analytics, and are often used in connection with cookies. However, web beacons and pixels are not stored in the same ways as cookies. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted.
How We Use Cookies & Similar Technologies
Foursquare uses cookies and similar technologies for the following reasons:
Strictly Necessary. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site may not work.
Performance & Analytics. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. For example, Foursquare uses third-party analytics providers, like Google Analytics and Adjust, to better understand who is using the service and how people are using it. As part of providing these services, these service providers may collect and store anonymous information such as time of visit, pages visited, time spent on each page of the website, IP address, and type of operating system used. Please read their privacy policies to ensure that you are comfortable with the manner in which they use cookies. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Functional. These cookies allow us to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our platform. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting. These cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other sites. We may work with advertisers or other partners and advertising service providers like The Trade Desk, LiveRamp, Google, Xandr to serve ads or services that may be relevant to you based on your inferred interests or location (or both) to computers, mobile phones or other devices, which may use a device ID, cookie, pixel or other similar technology placed by Foursquare or the third party (although we would not share any additional information that identifies you with an advertiser) on our services, or on a third-party website or app. Placing these cookies, pixels, or other technologies on your device may enable you to be identified across multiple websites. You should review our Privacy Policies and the privacy policies of our advertisers, partners, and advertising service providers to understand how they collect and use your data.
Social Media. These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
We all work with advertisers or other partners to help them determine the effectiveness of an advertising campaign by providing them with pixels that they place on their websites or advertisements. We work with service providers such as Tapad to help us match these pixels with a corresponding device ID, which is then matched against data we maintain.
Can Cookies Be Turned Off?
Most web browsers have an option to customize your cookie settings. For example, you can adjust your permission settings to block all cookies, or only third party cookies. Please be aware that limiting the ability of websites to set cookies may worsen your overall user experience, and in some cases the services will not work properly without cookies, local storage and similar technologies.
Some web browsers incorporate “Do Not Track” features. Currently, no industry standard exists for handling “Do Not Track” requests, therefore at this time, we do not honor “Do Not Track” browser signals.
Limited Interest-Based Advertising
To opt out of seeing interest-based ads from us or our third party advertising partners on various platforms, please follow these instructions:
Desktop or Mobile Web Browser (US only). You may opt out of seeing interest-based ads from us or our third party advertising partners on your desktop browser and/or mobile web browser by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (“DAA”) AdChoices or by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative’s (“NAI”) Consumer Opt-Out Choices.
Connected TVs (US only). You may also opt out of seeing interest-based ads on TV streaming devices and connected TVs by visiting the NAI’s Internet Connected TV Choices.
Mobile Apps (US only). You may opt out of seeing mobile app interest-based ads and ad delivery/reporting by downloading the DAA’s AppChoices mobile application, which is available here:
When you opt out on a particular device, we will stop using and transferring data from that device for purposes of interest-based advertising on, and ad delivery/reporting to, other linked devices. Additionally, we will also stop using data coming from other linked devices for interest-based advertising on, and ad delivery/reporting to, the device from which the choice was exercised. If you use more than one device, you should opt out on each device. Certain versions of your device’s operating system permit you to opt out of interest-based advertising. Please visit your device settings to limit such tracking.
Please note that you will still see ads when you opt out of interest-based ads, but they will no longer be based on your interests or behavior. In addition, we may also continue to collect, use and transfer browser data for purposes other than interest-based advertising and ad delivery/reporting, as described in our Privacy Policies.
Google has also developed a web browser plugin to allow you to opt-out of Google Analytics’ tracking software. Visit Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on (by Google) to download.