diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/schema.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/schema.php
index 544a9221d1..3fc0560b93 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/schema.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/schema.php
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ function populate_options( array $options = array() ) {
 		'wp_page_for_privacy_policy'      => 0,
 
 		// 4.9.8
-		'show_comments_cookies_opt_in'    => 0,
+		'show_comments_cookies_opt_in'    => 1,
 	);
 
 	// 3.3
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/options-discussion.php b/src/wp-admin/options-discussion.php
index 48fb552bb8..3f7683e6ba 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/options-discussion.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/options-discussion.php
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ printf(
 
 <label for="show_comments_cookies_opt_in">
 <input name="show_comments_cookies_opt_in" type="checkbox" id="show_comments_cookies_opt_in" value="1" <?php checked( '1', get_option( 'show_comments_cookies_opt_in' ) ); ?> />
-<?php _e( 'Show comments cookies opt-in checkbox.' ); ?>
+<?php _e( 'Show comments cookies opt-in checkbox, allowing comment author cookies to be set.' ); ?>
 </label>
 <br />