Media Link Tracker (SI) Removal

[TheFiend]

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.

Spoiler: What they track

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).​

Spoiler: What they track it for

What they track it for:

•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.​

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)

•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=...)

 

[Rva]

What do this do I need to turn it off? I mean, sometimes it’s good to know where I’ve been.

 

[TheFiend]

What do this do I need to turn it off? I mean, sometimes it’s good to know where I’ve been.

"What do this do": it's just a line of extra code websites stick to the end of their share links for the sole purpose of tracking the user who shared the link as well as anyone else who subsequently clicks on—or even just views—it.

"do I need to turn it off?": Oh nah, you absolutely don't need to do nothing, unless you want to of course. This thread was only intended to provide some helpful info is all.

 

[Rva]

"What do this do": it's just a line of extra code websites stick to the end of their share links for the sole purpose of tracking the user who shared the link as well as anyone else who subsequently clicks on—or even just views—it.

"do I need to turn it off?": Oh nah, you absolutely don't need to do nothing, unless you want to of course. This thread was only intended to provide some helpful info is all.

Thank you.