In plain language, Source Identifiers (SI) are a bit of extra code attached to the end of links as digital "breadcrumbs" that tell a platform exactly who shared the link, where they shared it, and who clicked it.
Source Identifiers are basically digital "bugs". Specifically used to track us.
TLDR: it turns a simple act of sharing into a surveillance asset for the platform's owners.
Example YouTube link:
1. With Source Identifier (in orange)
2. Without Source Identifier
More (SI) Examples
YouTube: (?si=...) or (&feature=share)
Amazon: (?ref=...) or (?_encoding=...)
X/Twitter: (?s=...) or (?t=...)
TikTok: (?_t=...) or (?_r=1)
Spotify: (?si=...)
Facebook: (?fbclid=...)
Source Identifiers are basically digital "bugs". Specifically used to track us.
What they track:
•The "Sharer's" Identity: The ID is often uniquely tied to your specific account or session. When you copy a link, the platform "stamps" it with your digital fingerprint.
•Social Connections: When someone clicks your link, the platform knows you two are connected. By following these links, tech companies can build a "social graph"—a map of your real-world relationships and influence that goes far beyond your public "friend" lists.
•Device & Context: They track what device you used, your location at the time of the click, and which "path" you took to get to the content (e.g., from a private message, an email, or a forum).
What they track it for:
•Algorithmic Training: It tells the platform what "type" of audience is sharing specific content, which "feeds" the algorithm to decide what to show you (and your friends) next.
•Ad Targeting: This data helps advertisers build a hyper-detailed profile of your behavior and associations to "microtarget" you with personalized ads.
•Algorithmic Training: It tells the platform what "type" of audience is sharing specific content, which "feeds" the algorithm to decide what to show you (and your friends) next.
•Campaign Attribution: For businesses, it measures the "effectiveness" of a link—essentially proving which specific person or post "converted" a user into a viewer or customer.
Example YouTube link:
1. With Source Identifier (in orange)
•To remove the tracking (SI), just delete everything from the ?si= onward.
2. Without Source Identifier
More (SI) Examples
YouTube: (?si=...) or (&feature=share)
Amazon: (?ref=...) or (?_encoding=...)
X/Twitter: (?s=...) or (?t=...)
TikTok: (?_t=...) or (?_r=1)
Spotify: (?si=...)
Facebook: (?fbclid=...)
