PSA: If you share a YouTube video using the native share feature it now attaches your user ID (?si=xxxxxx) to the URL automatically.

YT likely does this to growth-hack DMs. When someone clicks on the link, YT can start a DM thread between you two automatically with this ID even if they found the link outside of the YT app.

If you post links publicly, I strongly recommend deleting the ID unless you want to post your user profile.

@Techaltar Last year I made this iOS shortcut that expands YouTube mobile URLs and removes the tracking bit. I use it everyday from the Share Sheet and it works pretty well.

@BasementDweller3000 @Techaltar Oh this is good.

Could you share the shortcut with us?

I made my own simpler version: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/b989d973ffde41c599a9c0569b4c78fe

Shortcuts

Shortcuts

@BasementDweller3000 @ross @Techaltar umm.. stupid question- how to make this shortcut work? never managed to learn shortcuts :/

@DMTomas @BasementDweller3000 @Techaltar Once that one is installed it appears in the “Share Sheet”.

The YouTube app makes it tricky by adding an extra page of its own.

Press the curvy forward arrow and you’ll see the first picture.

Scroll the horizontal options along to the “More…” button. That opens the iOS share sheet.

The shortcut appears in that list. (Second image)

@ross @BasementDweller3000 @Techaltar hm… it converts the “youtu.be”link into “youtube.com/watch … “ but it still has the “is=xxxx” part, that I was deleting when sharing youtube links before… will investigate later. One way or another - thanks!! 🙏🫶
oh, and an off topic question - is there a way to automate iphone to move all reminders from “todo tomorrow” into “todo today” everyday at 12 at night?;)