What is the si parameter in YouTube and Spotify links?
si is a share identifier. YouTube began adding it to every link created with the share button in September 2023, and Spotify has used the same parameter name on shared tracks and playlists for years. The value is generated fresh for each share and is tied to the account that made it, which means a link you share can be traced back to you, and opens of that link can be attributed to your share.
What it looks like
https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=kFbQx8mR3vNwaB2chttps://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQOn Spotify it's the same shape: https://open.spotify.com/track/4uLU6hMCjMI75M1A2tKUQC?si=a1b2c3. In both cases the part before the question mark is the content, and si is the tracking. Share the same video twice and you'll get two different values, because the parameter identifies the share, not the video.
What survives cleaning, and what shouldn't
Not every YouTube parameter is a tracker, which is why blindly deleting everything after the question mark can bite you here. t is the timestamp, list and index are the playlist, and on youtube.com/watch links, v is the video itself. Those do real work. si does none; it exists so YouTube can attribute the share.
This is exactly what Link Sanitizer's community rules encode: the YouTube rule keeps t, v, list, and index and drops everything else, so your timestamp still works but your identity doesn't tag along.
Why platforms tag shares
A share is the most valuable signal a platform can get about a social connection: it says these two people talk, and this is the content that travels between them. TikTok goes furthest with it, to the point of showing recipients who sent the video, and Instagram runs the same play with igsh. si is YouTube's entry in the same category: quiet, account-linked share attribution.
Frequently asked questions
Does removing si hurt the creator's views or revenue?
No. Views count the same with or without it. si attributes the share for YouTube's analytics; it has nothing to do with monetization or whether the video loads.
Why is si different every time I share the same video?
Because it identifies your share event, not the video. Each use of the share button mints a new value tied to your account at that moment.
Is Spotify's si the same thing?
Effectively yes. Spotify appends an si value to shared track, album, and playlist links to attribute shares. It's just as safe to remove.
Which YouTube parameters should I keep?
Keep t (the timestamp, if you mean to link to a moment), and keep v on youtube.com/watch links because it's the video ID itself. list and index matter if you're sharing a playlist. si can always go.
