I've noticed a rise in people sharing links to YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and reddit that include tracking parameters in the URL.

It might largely be harmless for now, but it's not good to let companies build a web of links between users of this site, and to link the usernames of users on this site to their off-site accounts, which may include sensitive info.

SM URL Part Appearance in URL Filtration technique
Youtube Query ?si=* Remove query string
Instagram Query ?igshid=* Remove query string
Twitter Query ?t= Remove query string
Tiktok Subdomain and path (vm/vt).tiktok.com/(random_string) Block
reddit Path /(sub_name)/s/(random_string) Block

This site should only allow canonical links to the content to limit the information exposed.

  • What_Religion_R_They [none/use name]
    ·
    10 months ago

    Doesn't always work, but at least it's something

    The ClearURLs extension has a very robust link copying tool, but I think if we're relying on the users to have initiative about link cleaning then we're only as private as the least compliant users on this site.