Tracking Parameters Explained

Calm, practical, no fear tactics.

Tracking parameters are add-ons in URLs — usually after the ?. Examples: utm_source, fbclid, gclid. They’re useful for attribution, but often unnecessary when you forward a link to another person.

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What is it?

Base link

https://example.com/article

With parameters

https://example.com/article?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=launch&fbclid=XYZ

The destination page can be identical — only the appendix changes. That appendix often exposes context (source/campaign/click ID) you may not want to pass along.

UTM fields (meaning)

UTM is a convention used for campaign attribution. The most common fields:

utm_source

Source (e.g., newsletter, linkedin, mastodon).

utm_medium

Channel type (e.g., email, social, cpc).

utm_campaign

Campaign name (e.g., spring_launch).

utm_term / utm_content

Optional: keywords / variants (A/B, ad version).

UTM in depth Clean a UTM link

Common tracking IDs

These parameters are often click or campaign IDs from platforms and tools:

fbclid

Click ID from Facebook/Meta context.

gclid

Google Ads click ID.

msclkid

Microsoft Ads click ID.

mc_eid / mc_cid

Newsletter/mailing IDs (e.g., Mailchimp).

SafeShare removes standard tracking conservatively — without breaking destination behavior. Details: Rules & reason codes.

Why remove before sharing?

Less data exhaust

You pass along fewer extra hints in chats, emails, and documents.

Cleaner link

Shorter, clearer, more trustworthy.

Fewer breakages

Very long URLs wrap and copy/paste more reliably after cleanup.

Intentional sharing

You choose what context you want to share — and what you don’t.

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When not to remove blindly

Not every parameter is “tracking”. Some are intentional or functionally required.

Affiliate / ref

Parameters like ref or tag may be intentionally used for attribution.

Functional parameters

Some keys control language, filters, IDs, or search state.

Good default: remove standard tracking, and review functional/attribution parameters intentionally.
Rules & reason codes SafeShare Pro

Honest scope

  • Yes: SafeShare reduces tracking parameters in URLs before sharing.
  • No: it does not protect against IP logs, fingerprinting, or post-login tracking.
  • In short: a concrete hygiene step — not an invisibility promise.
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FAQ

What are tracking parameters?

Extra values appended to URLs (e.g., utm_*, fbclid, gclid) for attribution. They usually appear after the ?.

Should I remove them before sharing?

Often yes when forwarding to other people: links become shorter and carry less unnecessary context. For your own measurement, keeping them can make sense.

Are all URL parameters tracking?

No. Many parameters are functional (language, search, filters, IDs). Good practice: remove standard tracking and review functional parameters intentionally.

Does SafeShare remove all tracking?

No. SafeShare cleans URL parameters. It does not protect against IP logs, fingerprinting, or post-login tracking.