1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files a website stores in your browser to recognise you on subsequent visits, remember preferences, or measure usage.
2. Types of cookies we use
2.1. Essential — no consent required
| Name | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | Session — keeps you logged in | Until browser closes |
| csrf_token | Security — protects against CSRF attacks | Session |
| cookie_consent | Stores your cookie choice | 12 months |
| ugcbg_lang | Remembers BG/EN language | 12 months |
2.2. Functional — consent required
Remember settings like preferred view, recent searches. Without them the site works but with less comfort.
2.3. Analytics — consent required
| Name | Provider | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics 4 | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics 4 | 24 hours |
2.4. Marketing — consent required
We use the Meta Pixel of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. to measure whether our Facebook and Instagram ads lead to sign-ups on UGCBG and to show them to people they are useful to. The pixel is loaded only if you have allowed "Marketing" in the banner or in "Preferences". Without that consent the pixel is not loaded and we send no data to Meta through it. (Content you open yourself, e.g. an embedded Instagram clip in a portfolio, is separate and loads on your action.)
| Name | Provider and purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| _fbp | Meta Pixel — recognises the browser between visits | 90 days |
| _fbc | Meta Pixel — remembers that you came from an ad (the fbclid parameter) | 90 days |
| ugc_mreg | UGCBG — sends the "successful sign-up" event to Meta once; deleted right after | up to 10 minutes |
The pixel sends Meta the address of the page you visit, technical browser data and your IP address, plus these events: page view, opening the sign-up form and successful sign-up (with the account type — creator or brand). On a successful sign-up, again only with your consent, we may also send the same event from our server (Meta Conversions API) together with a hashed (SHA-256) email address — Meta does not receive the email in readable form — as well as your IP address and browser data (user agent), which are passed to it in plain form. We do not use Google Ads or the TikTok Pixel.
You can withdraw your consent at any time via "Manage cookies". The pixel stops immediately and the _fbp and _fbc cookies are deleted. More on Meta's processing in the Privacy Policy, § 3 and 4.
3. Managing consent
On your first visit you see a banner with three options: "Accept all", "Essential only", "Preferences". Your choice is stored for 12 months. You can change it at any time via the button at the bottom of the site.
4. Disabling cookies in your browser
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions
Bear in mind that fully blocking cookies may break site functionality (e.g. you may not be able to log in).
5. Link with GDPR
See the Privacy Policy.