Tracking parameter in shared YouTube URL's

[slawa]

YouTube added a tracking parameter to the URL generated by the sharing video function. It does not have any other purpose.

The primary purpose of the si parameter is to track “off-platform” sharing. When you click the Share button on a YouTube video, the site generates a unique ID for that specific sharing instance.

If you send that link to a friend and they click it, YouTube can link your account (the sharer) to their account (the viewer). This helps Google/YouTube build a “social graph,” allowing them to understand who your friends and contacts are even if you aren’t “connected” on a traditional social network.

Normal YouTube video URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbTs4wXtXcg

Shortened YouTube video URL:
https://youtu.be/DbTs4wXtXcg

Shortened YouTube video URL with si tracking parameter:
https://youtu.be/DbTs4wXtXcg?si=lk3JRT2KGjQHh7kv

One can simply remove this parameter by omitting ?si=.... part at the end of the URL

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Funny part is that they made the shared URL shorter for easier sharing, but by adding the tracking, it made it now LONGER than the normal video URL

[tempogain]

I always remove it, just because it doesn’t seem to do anything.