When you share a YouTube video using the share button it adds “si=some_unique_code” to the URL. If you don’t remove that it shows your personal account to anyone who receives it so that they can chat directly with you. For a lot of people this is their real name.
I’ve seen it all over Lemmy so I figured I’d mention it here! You only need the stuff before the question mark in the URL to let others see the video.
This can also be turned off in your YouTube settings under the privacy section. The setting is “channel visibility for shared links”. It will still add the si code for tracking though.
The frequency with which I’ve seen the
siattribute included in youtube links has made me painfully aware of just how many people are not using the internet the same way I do; they’re experiencing the internet through a handful of mobile apps, not through a web browser on the desktop.even some IT pros are leaving it in, knowing well what it does. some people just couldn’t care less.
I’m not an IT pro but I am ashamed I didn’t know this. I’ve spent a lot of time cutting up youtube links for shiz.
yup. I don’t use the google apps for ANYTHING. Even on my tab/phone, I use a browser (orion, with ublock origin installed) to watch youtube. It’s really annoying, but it’s better than using their spyware app.
Even then… what proportion of people do you think know the parts of a URL? Or know what a URL even is…
You may be in a bubble, friend
I know all this stuff and even I don’t look at the technical stuff in the URL. I just make sure it doesn’t have dQw4w9WgXcQ in there.
I refuse to search for that user, but dammit am I curious.
I searched for you and it’s actually worth it.
this video explains it all
Iykyk
This is why I use YouTube revanced. The features for it are great.
A problem I’ve had is people using those Google share links. I keep yelling them that I’m not clicking that link no matter how funny or interesting it may be.
Traffic is roughly 70-80% mobile on most websites I know.