this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2025
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I already try to consciously not click YouTube links in my primary browser to avoid this. I load them in a backup browser with no privacy tools or, much more often, download them directly for local viewing. Fuck Google and their ads.
So I would like someone to maybe try to confirm this, but I've been rightclicking and then opening in private browser if there is something I want to check out but don't want to dominate my feed.
However, I've been finding that I still am sometimes getting these things presented to me as if I care. I am beginning to suspect that YT is either a) tracking mouse coordinates and clicks, and using these or b) some kind of ip/ browser based finger printing that gets around private/ incognito browsing.
I'm on firefox, and running pop_os, so if any one else could weigh in anecdotally, I'm very interested.
Okay but so how is activity I'm doing in private mode relating back to non-private mode? Are they tracking mouse activity? Is this browser finger printing? How would I be able to figure that out?
So I'm as hardened as I think I can get on Firefox.
My real suspicion is that its tracking cursor positions. I've been trying to figure out an experimental design I could use to confirm this.
Because its the only interaction I can think of that they might have access to. And I know some websites do this. I'm opening them in private windows because I specifically don't want them to get into my feed, and the only interaction I'm having is to move my cursor over them and then to right click.
I guess they link it to your public IP address
I don't click on YouTube links at all... Gimme something written, not shitty videos with a lot of filler for revenues.
Movie trailers are a good reason to use YouTube from time to time.
I don't watch those, either.
Well then… No need for YT.
That's what I said, lol.