Damn great username btw 👌

Yeah that’s a good point about Amazon URLs. You really just need the product ID. So like Amazon produces this URL:

https://www.amazon.ca/Never-gonna-give-Vinyl-Single/dp/B0002ZFTJA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3T6J1RB3LF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5sQbY5zPzdbue9EsKzMZE7SHj7nPANdCl_J6XYlqq_yok4wKDeTifb-f2gzzbvZs8gAqDNTybeJ6bDZgH9KHNEPF8fGkCtHu7s-5GiIfJQ8rIGg1HqsgK2kpXFxnIBF7nTu0Dx7CQtCc2ka8SIE6er5PbLzRjr2IZGSqqoFDD_CD9tfXyCeqFGtMV9QM8bM0YZY-iZa-5tw.feaM2FfrnmPiNE6eWtARgbqoGLfhkSfxvcNZI&dib_tag=se&keywords=rick+astley+never+gonna+give+you+up&qid=1729438753&sprefix=rick+astley+never+gonna+give+you+up%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1

But I can pare that down to just this:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0002ZFTJA/

For anyone who wants to take this seriously but doesn’t know what to do:

TL;DR: Chop off everything after the question mark.

Usually these trackers are at the end of the URL, after a ?. That’s called the “query string parameters” of the URL, and it’s where developers will attach extra information for the server or page. Often, those are benign and useful: It’s a token that identifies you to the server, or it’s context about what you’re trying to do. Sometimes you can eyeball the query string params and guess what they do, e.g.:

coolvideos.com/videos/5432?fullscreen=true&autoplay=true&time=12021

or

cheapshoes.com/search?query=adidas+tennis&category=womens&filter=discounted

or

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

If you chopped off everything after the question mark, the URL should still work, it’d just give you a default version of that page. In these examples, there would be no privacy risk to sharing the URLs somewhere.

But query string params are also where alot of marketing/tracking bullshit goes. When you see URLs with UTM params like “utm_medium” and “utm_campaign”, that’s marketing bullshit. They can also contain info about who you are, like what OP is describing: If it’s some kind of referral link for example, then it might look like pyramidscheme.com/special-offer?associate_id=455&source=facebook. It might be esoteric too, like the “igsh” param in OP’s post (which I assume is short for “Instagram share” or something?). That WOULD be a privacy concern.

So yeah… Often you can eyeball it and figure out what (if anything) to remove… And if in doubt, try chopping off the question mark and everything following it, and see if the URL still works.

In a narrow sense, it’s useful for like… e.g. location-based search…So of you search “cosmetic dentistry,” it’s useful to privilege results closer to you (or at least you could make that argument). But broadly, in practice, “personalization” is primarily optimized for the ad buyer or first-party company’s goals (e.g. engagement, click-through) as per phases 2 and 3 of the enshittification cycle… And we know what happens to secondary goals as systems become increasingly optimized.

So I’m not claiming that it can’t be los dos, and indeed in phase 1 it definitely is… I’m claiming that it isn’t los dos, in practice, at this moment in history.

Great question – Because the process of enshittification requires the subordination of the user’s interests to the interests of businesses (ad buyers, in Google’s case), which in turn will be subordinated to the interests of shareholders. In principle, it should be possible to balance los dos in a pro-consumer, non-cynical way, but in practice, more line go up. Line must go up. Enshittification optimizes for line go up.

Small typo: You spelled “ad buyer” wrong.

Yeah, someone should definitely do that. I think this is written from the perspective of a security researcher communicating with others in the security world about a discovery they made, so it’s a) dense to read, and b) not thorough as a consumer guide.

Hopefully someone follows up with a resource like you describe.

AFAICT, keeping the TV offline (i.e. not connected to any wifi) and plugging in a laptop/Chromecast/etc. via HDMI would eliminate both sides of the problem. You can still use streaming services on the laptop, but the TV would be unable to phone home.

There’s always the yar har option as well, which is also effectively implemented with a laptop.

Or scattered across many menus in this case

Yeah I feel that way sometimes too. They won’t even go bankrupt, they’ll just have to settle for less line go up.

Table 1 describes the settings that you need to configure on LG and Samsung TVs to stop ACR behavior.

That looks really cool. It will help me live out my fantasy of having a handful of ants in my pocket that I can deploy at any moment.

From a carrier, but unlocked.

Yeah, that’s the main blocker for me, too.

“So just uninstall Facebook.”

You literally can’t on the last two Samsung phones I’ve owned.

Mine is that, except they DON’T complain. Like when someone is showing me a YouTube video on their device and an ad shows up 30 seconds in… I lunge for the mute button while I scan the room for a blanket, clipboard, or other item to shield us, yelling “AVERT YOUR EYES!!” but next to all of my commotion, they’re just nodding along placidly like “Oh Coinbase, interesting.”

Like… Aren’t you affronted that some company paid another company to make it less convenient to do the thing you’re trying to do?! Does the gaudy, pushy tone change to too-loud propaganda designed to coax you away from your money not gall you?!

“Idk sometimes the ads are interesting. Free month sounds good.”

Jesus christ he’s too far gone.

Look, they only had $70m to work with, okay? You gotta make some compromises when you’re on such a shoestring budget.

Yeah, it’s really strange. Talking about how it inspired a new generation of developers and stuff, like anyone had time to be inspired and start a game development career in the 3 weeks it’s been out, lol.

Let us not forget the revolutionary idea to-- now pay attention cause this is BIG-- to prioritize player experience! Can’t believe nobody has thought of that before.

What in the ChatGPT is this article? It’s like someone from LinkedinLunatics paid an aspiring content writer to write a vapid hype piece but insisted that it be about 6x too long.

Here are some highlights (although it was hard to figure out which sections were the cringiest):

This new studio represented more than just a business venture; it was the manifestation of Feng’s dream to create games that prioritized player experience over profit.

The team’s dedication to authenticity was unparalleled. They immersed themselves in Chinese mythology, reading the classical novel “Journey to the West” over 100 times. They visited countless cultural sites, drawing inspiration from ancient architecture, art, and landscapes.

The impact of Black Myth: Wukong extended far beyond sales figures. It became a cultural phenomenon, bridging the gap between Chinese mythology and global audiences. The game’s success inspired a new wave of developers to create games based on their own cultural mythologies and histories

Feng Ji: The Humble Visionary Despite the overwhelming success and adulation, Feng Ji remained characteristically humble. When asked about the game’s achievements, he responded with a touch of philosophy: "When you are at the peak of confidence, you are also staring at the valley of foolishness. This statement encapsulated Feng’s approach to game development and success. Rather than resting on his laurels, he immediately turned his attention to the future, focusing on expansion packs and maintaining the game’s quality

Jesus christ tone it down.