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Cookie Consent Pop-ups and Assistive Technologies

Website cookies are important because they help website owners comply with data privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). They also give users control over their personal data by informing them about cookie use and giving them the option to accept, customize, or decline.

While well-intentioned, cookie consent pop-ups often create frustration, confusion, and barriers for users who rely on assistive technology.

How Cookie Consent Pop-ups Impact Assistive Technology

Screen Readers:

  • Pop-ups can disrupt the reading flow and confuse screen reader users.
  • Screen readers may read improperly labeled pop-ups incorrectly or not at all, causing users to miss crucial information or controls and causing confusion.
  • Screen reader users have keystroke combinations that allow them to jump around the page, just like non-screen reader users. For example, the "h" key is a keyboard shortcut in NVDA that navigates to the next heading and reads it to the user. If there is no heading on the cookie consent, it will be skipped.

Keyboard Navigation:

  • Users relying solely on keyboards may find navigating to and interacting with pop-up elements difficult.
  • The standard "Escape" key to close pop-ups might not function as expected, resulting in a keyboard trap.
  • Focus may be out of logical order, causing screen reader users to be unaware of its presence before browsing the webpage and miss the opportunity to select their cookie preferences.

Other Assistive Technology:

  • Pop-ups can interfere with tools like screen magnifiers by obscuring content or creating visual clutter.
  • Users with cognitive disabilities may find the sudden appearance and complex language of some pop-ups overwhelming.
  • Users with mobility issues who use devices like mouth sticks can find pop-ups difficult to close or dismiss if the target (the standard "X") does not meet WCAG regulations for target size. This also applies to toggle switches used by website users to set their privacy preferences.

Best Practices for Accessible Cookie Consent Pop-ups

Use landmarks for more accessible cookie consent pop-ups—the "region" landmark is the appropriate way to mark a cookie banner on a webpage, and giving it an accessible name like "Cookie Consent" or "Confirm or Decline" is an excellent way to help users, particularly those using screen readers, quickly identify and navigate to that section. 

Use ARIA attributes to inform screen readers about the pop-up's purpose, content, and functionality. When the consent pop-up appears, the website should immediately announce it to screen reader users. The use of aria-label or aria-labelledby can accomplish this. Make sure you provide an accessible name, such as "Cookie Consent Pop-up."

Use only semantic HTML. When providing clickable links or buttons, use the proper semantic HTML tags - <a href>, <button>. Without the semantic HTML, these pseudo-interactive elements are not included in the default tab order, nor do they receive focus.

Use headings to identify cookie consent and ensure all headings are in order.

Make sure users can easily see and activate interactive targets like buttons, toggle switches, and symbols. Adequate size and spacing will help prevent errors.

Avoid using modal-type pop-ups that temporarily take over the screen, requiring the user to resolve the issue or complete a task before returning to the original content.

Ensure proper color contrast for all design elements, including background color, text color, buttons, and icons.

Use plain language and avoid jargon to make the purpose and options easy to understand.

Consider placing the banner at the top of the page, "above the fold."

Include a link in the banner to the detailed cookie policy. 

While we might find them annoying, cookie consent notices (like pop-ups and banners) are probably not going away anytime soon. After all, they are a legal requirement, and users get to state their preferences. By following the recommendations in this blog, you can help ensure these requirements are accessible to everyone, ensuring all users can make informed choices about their data.

Resources

Maggie Vaughan, CPACC
Content Marketing Practitioner
DubBot