Cookie Consent Banner Usability & Trust Survey

Welcome to this survey about your experience with cookie and consent notices on websites. This survey is voluntary, and you may stop at any time. There are no right or wrong answers — we are interested in your honest opinions. Your responses are anonymous and will be reported only in aggregate to help improve how websites communicate about data privacy. The survey takes approximately 11 minutes to complete.

When did you most recently see a cookie or consent notice on a website?

• Within the last 24 hours
• Within the last 2–7 days
• Within the last 8–30 days
• More than 30 days ago
• I don't remember

Thinking about that most recent notice, how easy or difficult was it to understand what data would be collected and why?

Thinking about that most recent notice, how did it affect your trust in the website?

Please rank the following features by importance for a good cookie/consent experience, from most to least important.

1. Clear, plain-language purpose explanations
2. Equal prominence for Accept All and Reject All
3. Easy "Reject All" option
4. Granular toggles by category
5. No pre-selected opt-ins
6. Persistent icon to revisit choices

Thinking about the most recent cookie/consent notice you saw, what, if anything, felt unclear or was missing?

Which privacy framework most closely matches your expectations for cookie consent where you live?

• European Union (GDPR)
• United Kingdom (UK GDPR)
• United States
• Canada (PIPEDA/CPPA)
• Australia
• Other / Not sure

Thank you for completing this survey! Your responses will help improve the design of cookie and consent experiences across the web. Your answers are anonymous and will be reported in aggregate only.

Which device were you mainly using during that visit?

• Smartphone
• Laptop or desktop computer
• Tablet
• Other

How easy or difficult was it to find and use the option to reject cookies?

In general, how intrusive do you find cookie/consent notices?

We'd like to explore your thoughts on cookie consent experiences in a bit more depth. An AI interviewer will ask you a couple of follow-up questions.

What is your age?

• Under 18
• 18–24
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65 or older
• Prefer not to say

What did you do when the most recent cookie or consent notice appeared?

• Accepted all
• Rejected all
• Customized settings
• Closed or ignored it
• Continued browsing without making a choice
• Not sure / Don't remember

How easy or difficult was it to customize cookie preferences by category (e.g., analytics, marketing)?

After making your initial choice, were you able to revisit and change cookie settings on that site?

• Yes, via a visible icon or link
• Yes, via an account or settings menu
• I couldn't find a way
• I didn't try

Based on your responses in this survey, please share any additional thoughts or suggestions for improving cookie/consent experiences.

How do you describe your gender?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer not to say

Overall, how clear was the cookie/consent notice?

Have cookie/consent notices ever changed what you did on a site? Select all that apply.

• I left the site
• I delayed or hesitated to proceed
• I changed settings and continued
• I accepted all to proceed quickly
• I rejected all and continued
• I used browser or extension tools to block cookies or scripts
• No impact on my behavior
• Other

In which region do you currently live?

• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• North America
• South America
• Oceania
• Middle East
• Prefer not to say

How satisfied were you with the level of control the notice gave you over your cookie preferences?

Approximately how many different websites showed you a cookie/consent notice in the past 7 days?

• 0
• 1–3
• 4–7
• 8–15
• 16 or more
• Not sure

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• Less than high school
• High school or equivalent
• Some college / Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate or professional degree
• Prefer not to say

What is your current employment status?

• Employed full-time
• Employed part-time
• Self-employed
• Student
• Unemployed and seeking
• Unemployed and not seeking
• Retired
• Homemaker / caregiver
• Prefer not to say