David Hoffmann Eyes Buying St. Louis Cardinals After Penguins Deal

This article takes a closer look at the world of online data privacy, especially when it comes to advertising and how websites work. It unpacks the ways sites and their partners use things like cookies to track your digital moves, which shapes the ads you end up seeing.

If you’re a sports fan, it’s worth knowing how this stuff works. After all, the business side of sports is huge, and your clicks and views matter more than you might think.

Unpacking the Digital Playbook: How Your Data Fuels Online Ads

Every time you do something online, you leave a digital trace. For sports fans, that could be checking scores or diving into some stats, but either way, someone’s analyzing what you do.

The Power of Cookies: Tracking Your Online Game

Cookies and similar tech are right at the center of all this. Imagine them as tiny digital scouts, quietly keeping tabs as you browse.

They collect details about your device and what you do online. That’s how websites and their partners serve up interest-based ads that actually make sense for you.

• Interest-based ads try to match you with stuff you might like—maybe new gear, game tickets, or even merch from your favorite player.
• While this info doesn’t always reveal exactly who you are, it still builds a picture of your habits online.

Your Right to Opt-Out: Taking Control of Your Data

Data collection is everywhere, but there are rules—especially in some states. You might have more say over your data than you think.

Navigating State Privacy Laws: CCPA, CPRA, and VCDPA

Big laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) treat certain targeted ads as a “sale” of personal info. That’s a key point because it gives you the right to opt out.

• Most sites offer an opt-out toggle, so you can say no to your data being sold, no matter where you live.
• But opting out doesn’t mean ads disappear, or that all cookies are gone. It mainly stops your data from being sold for targeted ads.
• You could still see interest-based ads from data not sold by the site, or from third parties the site can’t really control.

Understanding Cookie Categories: Beyond Advertising

Cookies aren’t all the same. Knowing what each type does can help you figure out what you’re comfortable with online.

Strictly Necessary vs. Advertising and Analytics Cookies

Websites use all sorts of cookies, and each one has its own job. Honestly, knowing the difference helps you figure out what’s really happening with your data.

• Strictly necessary cookies are the backbone of any site. They let you log in, move from page to page, and do basic stuff. You can’t turn these off, even if you want to.
• Advertising cookies come from partners who want to build up those interest profiles we keep hearing about. These cookies decide which ads you’ll see, not just here but probably on other sites too. Usually, they use device or browser IDs, so they’re not screaming your name, but still—your activity shapes what pops up.
• Analytics cookies are a different breed. They collect anonymous info about visits and where people come from. Publishers use this to see how folks interact with their site and figure out what’s working (or not). If you turn these off, it’s harder for them to track what users actually do.

 
Here is the source article for this story: David Hoffmann says he wants to buy St. Louis Cardinals after Pittsburgh Penguins deal