Legal
Cookie Policy
Cookies are small files a site stores in your browser. We use as few as we can. Here is the full list and how to change your mind.
Last updated: October 23, 2026
How we approach cookies
StarScoop does not use cookies to advertise to you or to profile you. We set a single first-party cookie that remembers your choices from the cookie banner. Everything beyond that is optional and off by default. Nothing in the “third-party media” or “analytics” categories runs until you turn it on.
When you first visit, a banner gives you equal options to Accept all, Reject all, or open Preferences to choose by category. You can change your choice whenever you like using the link, which is also in the footer of every page.
Categories
Strictly necessary (always on). A single first-party cookie that stores your cookie choice so we do not have to ask on every page. The site cannot function sensibly without remembering this, so it is not optional. It holds no identifying data.
Third-party media / embeds (off by default). Allows videos and posts embedded from YouTube, X and Instagram to load. These platforms can then set their own cookies and receive your IP address. Until you allow this category, or press the “Load content” button on an individual item, we show a placeholder and load nothing.
Analytics (off by default, currently empty). Reserved for aggregate, privacy-conscious traffic measurement. We have not connected any analytics provider, so allowing this category currently sets no cookies. It is listed so your preference is respected if that ever changes.
The cookies we set
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| starscoop_consent | StarScoop (first party) | Remembers your cookie-banner choices. | ~180 days |
That is the only cookie StarScoop sets. We run no analytics or advertising cookies.
Cookies set by embedded content, if you allow it
If you turn on third-party media, or load a specific embed, the platform you are loading may set its own cookies. We do not control these and cannot list them all, because they are managed by each platform. Their purposes and lifetimes are described in their own policies:
- YouTube (loaded from youtube-nocookie.com), see Google’s privacy and cookie documentation.
- X (formerly Twitter), see the X privacy policy.
- Instagram, see the Meta privacy policy.
Where we can, we avoid these entirely. For example, links to stories on X open the platform in a new tab rather than loading a tracking widget into the page.
Managing cookies in your browser
You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Doing so will not stop you reading the site, though it may mean we ask for your cookie choice again. If you delete our consent cookie, the banner will reappear on your next visit.
Questions
For anything about cookies, email [email protected]. For the wider picture, see our Privacy Policy.