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Cookie Policy

Last updated: January 1, 2025  •  Compliant with GDPR, ePrivacy Directive & CCPA

🍪 Your choices matter. This policy explains exactly what cookies we use, why, and how you can manage or disable them at any time. We only place non-essential cookies with your explicit consent.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They allow the site to remember your preferences, keep you logged in, and understand how you interact with content.

Similar technologies such as web beacons, pixel tags, local storage and session storage work in a comparable way and are also covered by this policy. We refer to all of these collectively as "cookies" throughout this document.

2. Who Sets Cookies on Starter Lab?

Cookies on Starter Lab may be set by:

  • Starter Lab (first-party cookies): placed directly by our platform for core functionality and analytics.
  • Third-party providers (third-party cookies): placed by services we integrate with, such as payment processors, analytics tools and advertising partners. These are listed in detail in Section 5.

3. Categories of Cookies We Use

3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

Consent required: No — These cookies are essential for the platform to function and cannot be disabled without breaking core features.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Duration
sl_session Starter Lab Keeps you logged in during your session Session
sl_auth_token Starter Lab Authenticates your account securely 30 days
sl_csrf Starter Lab Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks Session
sl_cookie_consent Starter Lab Remembers your cookie preferences 12 months
sl_lang Starter Lab Stores your language/region preference 12 months

3.2 Analytics & Performance Cookies

Consent required: Yes — These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the platform so we can improve the user experience. All data is aggregated and anonymised where possible.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Duration
_ga Google Analytics Distinguishes users for traffic analysis (anonymised IP) 2 years
_ga_* Google Analytics 4 Maintains session state for GA4 reports 2 years
_gid Google Analytics Distinguishes users; updated on each page view 24 hours
sl_perf Starter Lab Tracks page load times and error rates for internal monitoring 30 days

3.3 Functional / Preference Cookies

Consent required: Yes — These cookies remember your choices and personalise your experience on the platform.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Duration
sl_theme Starter Lab Stores UI theme preference (dark/light) 12 months
sl_progress Starter Lab Saves your course progress between sessions 6 months
intercom-* Intercom Powers the live chat support widget 9 months

3.4 Marketing & Advertising Cookies

Consent required: Yes — These cookies track your browsing activity to help us and our partners show relevant advertisements on third-party platforms, including Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and X (Twitter). They also help us measure ad campaign effectiveness.

⚠️ These cookies may link your activity across multiple websites. You can opt out at any time via our cookie preferences panel or the ad platform opt-out links provided below.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Duration
_fbp Meta (Facebook) Identifies browsers for Facebook ad delivery and conversion measurement 3 months
_fbc Meta (Facebook) Stores Facebook click ID for ad attribution 3 months
twid X (Twitter) Identifies X users for ad targeting and conversion tracking 2 years
muc_ads X (Twitter) Tracks conversions from X ad campaigns 2 years
_gcl_au Google Ads Measures ad conversion efficiency via Google tag 3 months
sl_utm_* Starter Lab Tracks UTM campaign parameters to measure ad source effectiveness 30 days

4. How Long Do Cookies Last?

Cookies fall into two duration categories:

  • Session cookies: Deleted automatically when you close your browser.
  • Persistent cookies: Remain on your device until they expire (as shown in the tables above) or until you manually delete them.

5. Third-Party Providers — Full List

The following third-party services may place cookies when you use Starter Lab:

  • Google Analytics — Web analytics. Privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy
  • Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram) — Ad measurement and retargeting. Privacy policy: facebook.com/privacy. Opt-out: Facebook Ad Settings
  • X (Twitter) Pixel — Ad conversion tracking. Privacy policy: twitter.com/privacy. Opt-out: X Personalization Settings
  • Stripe — Payment processing. Privacy policy: stripe.com/privacy
  • Intercom — Customer support chat. Privacy policy: intercom.com/legal/privacy

6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options to control cookies:

a) Cookie Preference Centre
Click the "Cookie Preferences" link in the footer of any Starter Lab page to open our consent manager. You can enable or disable each category of non-essential cookies at any time.

b) Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies through their settings menu. Note that blocking all cookies may prevent certain features of the platform from working correctly. Links to browser cookie settings:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Apple Safari
  • Microsoft Edge

c) Industry Opt-Out Tools
You can opt out of interest-based advertising from participating companies via:

  • Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA)
  • Your Online Choices (EU)
  • Network Advertising Initiative (NAI)

7. Cookies and Advertising Compliance (Meta & X)

When we run advertising campaigns on Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and X (Twitter/X), we use tracking pixels and conversion cookies to measure campaign performance. These cookies never contain your financial data or trading activity. They are solely used to understand how users who clicked an ad behave on our platform (e.g. whether they signed up), in compliance with both platforms' advertising policies.

Our ads always clearly identify Starter Lab as an educational platform. We comply with Meta's Financial Products and Services policy and X's Financial Advertising guidelines, which require educational and informational framing for crypto-related ad content.

8. Do Not Track

Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Currently there is no universally accepted standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals, so Starter Lab does not respond to them differently. You can use our Cookie Preference Centre to opt out of non-essential cookies.

9. California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants you additional rights regarding cookies and personal information, including the right to know what data is collected, the right to delete it, and the right to opt out of the "sale" of personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise your rights, contact us at privacy@starterlab.io.

10. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in the cookies we use or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of material changes by posting an updated policy on this page with a revised date. For significant changes, we may also notify you by email.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:

  • Email: privacy@starterlab.io
  • Subject line: "Cookie Policy Enquiry"
Related legal documents: Terms of Service Privacy Policy Risk Disclaimer ← Back to Home

© 2025 Starter Lab. Educational platform only.

Terms Privacy Cookies Disclaimer

Starter Lab is an educational platform only. We do not provide financial or investment advice. Trading involves risk, including the possible loss of capital. Users are solely responsible for their financial choices.