Topic: PSA: Remove the "si" tracking parameter from Youtube links

Posted under Off Topic

I've seen a few comments on e6 with Youtube links that includes the "si" tracking parameter. PSA for anyone wanting to post Youtube links here (or anywhere really):

Remove the tracking parameter!

It allows Youtube / Google to track who shared the link, where, as well as who clicked on the link. This let's them build a graph

How to:

If you are watching a video in a browser... just copy the URL directly, that normally has no tracking parameter.

If you click "share" on Youtube it gives you a link like this: https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=S0me1on9rand0m7ext
See that bit that starts with ?si=? Get rid of all of that and what comes after, so that it becomeshttps://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ.

If you want to share with the timestamp, it gives you a link like this: https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=S0me1on9rand0m7ext&t=43
Remove from si= all the way up to and including the next & so you get https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?t=43.

This is great advice, I always take care to avoid sharing this sort of garbage along with URLs, but many people just blindly share it without thinking.

Best case scenario it allows corporations to track you even easier than before, worst case scenario you can actually end up leaking your personal info. I know TikTok's sharing method is particularly obnoxious and will actually share your username with anybody you share a link with. I think it's an option that can be disabled, but honestly I will never sign up to that website to ever find out.

See also topic #34356 for Twitter's similar &t= parameter (It would be great if we could get PR #426 merged already). I even have an example in that thread where I managed to find an e621 uploader's Telegram account - it's a real risk, not just a theoretical one.

Reminder that some browsers do at least try to protect you from this fuckery, Firefox can attempt to strip tracking data in the right-click menu, although I'm uncertain of the effectiveness.

alphamule

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skulblakka said:
It's the base64 encode of whatever you entered into the search box.

I couldn't find that ANYWHERE. I probably could have figured it out with base64 decoder, but thanks for not having to! Hell, knowing me, I noticed that and then forgot. ;)

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