Is your email address the new cookie?

Retargeting is successful. No one is arguing that. The .70 percent click-through rates generated by retargeted ads outdo the meager industry average of .07 percent. But the cookies that make much of this retargeting possible have severe limitations. They are a product of the mid-’90s, when we only had one device (a desktop PC) and one browser, and they have an average life of about three days.

Since then, Internet usage has increased 6 times, and over half of time spent online is through mobile devices. Cookies are notoriously device-centric, so an alternative must be found for a cross-channel, cross-platform and cross-device solution. In his presentation at the Digiday Programmatic Summit, LiveIntent’s vp of engineering Kyle Brown nominated an unlikely but well-known hero: the email address. Email addresses are considered strong IDs because they’re the same regardless of of browser or device. And a logged-in audience is much more valuable than an anonymous one.

More from Digiday

Fox strikes revenue-doubling Roku deal

The media company is set to acquire streamer in $22 billion stock-and-cash purchase. But it will keep its own properties like Tubi separate.

The official judgmental map of Cannes Lions 2026

This map won’t tell you where to go during Cannes Lions. It will tell you where you actually are.

WTF is vector-based ad targeting?

Traditional text-based ad targeting will always have its place. But in an ad marketplace run by AI agents, it may need to be replaced as the primary method of aiming ads.