{
  "id": 13869120,
  "title": "my analytics globe doesn't know where anyone is. that's the point.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/my-analytics-globe-doesnt-know-where-anyone-is-thats-the-point",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-12T04:10:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/omyvnss/my-analytics-globe-doesnt-know-where-anyone-is-thats-the-point-4bfi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On a dashboard, there is a spinning globe. However, none of the dots on the globe represent real visitors. The creator of Cloudline, an AI developer named Yaduvanshi at 18, opted to keep the globe in the analytics tool with a label, rather than displaying real visitors. The dots are merely decorative and not based on actual locations. The reason behind not displaying real locations is that it would require IP addresses or similar information, which would violate privacy policies. Cloudline does not store IP addresses, set cookies, or read user agents. Instead, it tracks pageviews based on four factors: page, referrer, screen size, and time. This approach allows Cloudline to maintain privacy while still providing useful data such as the count and pages viewed. The trade-off is that the globe cannot reveal the city or location of individual visitors, as it would compromise the privacy policy. Instead, the globe serves as a garnish, adding visual interest without compromising the integrity of the data.",
  "summary": "there's a spinning globe on my analytics dashboard. none of the dots are real. i'm om yaduvanshi, 18, an applied ai developer building cloudline , a cookieless analytics tool. day 17 of 90, building in public. the globe the live visitors view has an interactive globe. little dots light up across it. it looks like it's showing where your visitors are. it isn't. those are sample locations. labeled.…",
  "key_points": [
    "Cloudline's globe is a decorative element, not representing real visitors.",
    "Privacy policy prevents Cloudline from displaying real visitor locations.",
    "Cloudline tracks pageviews using page, referrer, screen size, and time."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}