[PSA] YouTube adds tracking parameters to shared URLs that can be traced back to individual accounts

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

you likely have a filter list that uses removeparam rules to clean urls from tracking stuff:

https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Static-filter-syntax#removeparam

For example, I found these rules in "uBlock filters – Privacy" list which is included by default in uBO:

! youtube.com - Copy video URL at its search result via mouse right click.
||youtube.com^$removeparam=pp
||youtu.be^$removeparam=si

Well, this is pretty much related to that business. :)

Yeah, FreeTube is great, thanks for reminding. I installed it on my mom's PC so she can use YT with peace of mind. It's especially a privacy nightmare for unaware people.

Yes but you have to know about it first.

I agree that it's useless but people who use the mobile app don't have that luxury. Also, even if you are aware of this, you can still see links like this.

Now I wonder if Ublock Origin blocks the parameters in an embedded video.

You're welcome. It's sad that almost every big corporation do this today and it's getting more thorny every day.

You're welcome. There are many alternatives on Android but this one is pretty good and didn't need alternatives. Well, this war will continue until Google decides to close Youtube to public view.

Oh god, there are so many fake websites about ReVanced. Thanks for the info though.

That's a good advice. However most people won't check that when it's on an official website and they will have no idea what that parameter does, and it's worse with the mobile app.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.
Those parameters can be useful, like time parameter (when to start video). Better safe than sorry though.

You can use it to send video with parameter where to start playing. For example video is 1 hour long, and you want send link, that will start video at 15:34 :)
Quite useful at times, but I guess we just can't have nice things without corpos looking inside our ass.

I don't use share button as well but as @76561198082881386 said it can be used to select a start time for the video. Also on mobile app you have no other choice, unless you use a third-party app or a browser.

To be fair, it should be. This is not so different than what Facebook does.

It seems you only get that part if you use the share button, at least for now. You can try the share button to see that part being generated.
Also, without an account share button doesn't add that kind of parameter.