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Why do websites still include those buttons to share articles in 2025? does anyone even still use them? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by Mee@reddthat.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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[–] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The primary purpose of those buttons is of course to let those sites track everyone's browsing activity across every site that uses them, which does not require that anyone ever click on them.

Even if less than 0.0001% of people click them, anyone with an SEO/spammer "grindset" will assure site operators that the potential benefit of someone sharing a link they otherwise wouldn't have is still at least theoretically non-zero. And, since there is absolutely no cost at all besides an acceptable number of extra milliseconds per pageload, really, it would be downright irresponsible not to have them there!

[–] SirQuack@feddit.nl 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I've added some of those. Actually sharing can just be a link to the publish URL for Facebook. Not in any way different from a normal link to other websites.

The share button usually just uses the Share API, which is handled by your browser.

But yes, you can use the Facebook and Twitter javascript api to add additional tracking and "a more fluent experience", but it's usually easier to not do that.