Stuart Celarier ❌👑Feb 1

[Repost] Clean YouTube links. When you get a link from YT, it includes an ID tracking back to YOU. It's a "query string" on the end of the URL like this:
...?si=[tracker_ID_here]

This ID allows YouTube (and their owner, Google, and *their* owner, Alphabet, and ALL of their associates) to track the people who click on the link, and the apps they used, back to you, building a network of none-of-their-business.

Good news: DELETE the "?si=..." part & the link works just fine without the tracking.

Show threadThe Orange ThemeFeb 2

@VisualStuart For iOS friends, I've written a shortcut that will remove the surveillance from the URL in the clipboard. I have an icon right next to the YouTube app for this. It makes sharing links on my phone so much easier.

Edit: make sure the replace function is set to regex mode.

Show threaddxzdbFeb 2

@theorangetheme @VisualStuart This is great! Didn't know about the regex check box either.

It looks like some videos don't add tracking while others do. Wonder who decides - or if the amount of traffic on a video does that.

Show threadThe Orange ThemeFeb 2

@dxzdb @VisualStuart Thank you!

Huh, that's interesting. I used to remove the tracking manually, and I don't think I encountered a video that didn't have it. Do you have an example video? I'm curious.

Show threaddxzdbFeb 2

@theorangetheme @VisualStuart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5roTbLx0kY This already outdated one about youtube privacy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2muuD83L13w&pp=ygUUbWF0dHNvZmZyb2FkcmVjb3Zlcnk%3D This addicting off road recovery channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_5MJv-Jjy0 A James Bond behind the scene spoiler

I seem to have to work to actually get the tracking right now.

Is there any difference between macOS and iOS/iPadOS?

Also I use the StopTheMadness app - maybe that’s helping me?

Stop YouTube from Tracking You – 5 Essential Privacy Fixes

YouTube
Show threadStuart Celarier ❌👑
@theorangetheme @dxzdb While viewing a YouTube video in the app or website, click the Share button and copy the link to the clipboard. When you paste the link into a Mastodon post / email to your congress person / rant to your grandma be sure to delete the 'si' query string parameter. Peace.
Feb 3 at 3:18amWeb
Show threaddxzdbFeb 3

@VisualStuart @theorangetheme yeah - I will now that I know to look for that.

But the “si” tracking thing isn’t always there and I’m wondering what controls that.

Show threadStuart Celarier ❌👑Feb 3

@theorangetheme @dxzdb No idea. I think it is always there for me when I use the Share button.

There are two kinds of people: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.