Social media cookies are tracking cookies set by platforms — including Meta, LinkedIn, X, and TikTok — when their scripts, share buttons, embedded videos, or advertising pixels load on a third-party website. They allow platforms to track user behavior across the web, build targeting profiles, and measure ad effectiveness. Common examples include the Meta Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, and TikTok Pixel. Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, social media cookies require explicit opt-in consent before activation. A consent management platform must block these scripts on page load and activate them only after a user accepts the relevant cookie category.