I call these "tainted links" which seems to get the point across pretty well to my friends. Started doing it when youtube began adding tracking info to every shared link
this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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Microblog Memes
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I noticed tiktok videos my wife sent me would work in the browser if I removed the param queries, since I refuse to download the app. So I made a Firefox browser extension to do it automatically for me when I click one.
What’s the extension name? I have this exact same issue.
Edit: does it also work for Instagram reels?
The trick is knowing which parameters are the necessary ones, and which are for tracking.
I made an iOS shortcut just for sending YouTube links that strips out any tracking codes in the url.
video.com/watch?v=have-you-seen-this-yet=no&?length=2-fucking-hours
Can someone explain the issue here? Genuinely, please educate me about this.
What are the queries and why don't we like them?
You ever copy a link and it's like 3 paragraphs long? Most likely, most of that link is has additional query string parameters that's used for tracking. You could probably remove most of, if not everything after the '?' in those URLs, and it will work fine, but remove all the tracking info.
If you browse the web and want to send a URL to a friend.
Make sure to delete the question mark and every single character after it.
Everything before is the real URL and will link to the same webpage.
Everything after are tracking numbers and other parameters that aren't needed. They make the URL longer, but also allow tracking between devices.
There is one unfortunate exception to this rule, and that is "?v=.........."
which, for some video platforms, is the actual reference ti which video it is supposed to play.
Tracking, trying to link people together.
I thought I was alone, waging a pointless war in the dark.
Every time I get a share link I’m always pasting it and deleting everything after the /? Like if there’s an extension to auto strip that shit out, I’d be happier
firefox has a "copy link without tracking" option on right click
People who use a browser made by a company who’s business model is tracking them:
“Why aren’t there better anti-tracking features?”
I have this app URLCheck from f-droid that intercepts all links i click and l3t me clean all the parameters and so. I can also use it to share from so I can always clean the links before sharing.
The only app that dosen't work well is soundcloud that the tracking parameter is not recognized as so and I need to manual add characters to contaminate the parameter
Yeah, I have that as my default browser. It's great! I just wish certain apps like Discord wouldn't bypass my default browser and open YouTube links directly in the YouTube app. I have to copy them first, and it's a nuisance.
I love that app! You can also add custom rules, the soundcloud thing shouldn't be that hard to get rid of.
Hou do you add the xustom rules?
If you send me a link with a question mark in the URL, we ain’t friends anymore.
You must be getting sent to the YouTube homepage a lot
You guys don't pointlessly change watch?v= to v/ just to maintain friendships?
Tarnhelm for Android. 👍🏻