NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] bit.ly undermining their own value due to new "Pro" service
bit.ly undermining their own value due to new "Pro" service Just a quick note on the link shortening front. Link shortening services are always controversial, and I've noted in the past the reasons why I've chosen to shorten most links with bit.ly to avoid otherwise common MUA and even MTA problems with long URLs included in my own messages sent to this list. Over time, bit.ly has established a good reputation for link verification and recently began escrowing links with Internet Archive to assure their viability if -- for example -- bit.ly went out of service. However, their new bit.ly "Pro" service may well undermine much of the good will that they've established. The new service allows users to use their own selected domains to shorten via bit.ly, instead of the bit.ly domain itself. Sites like the New York Times have already jumped on this bandwagon. While the proliferation of new shortening domains may make it more confusing for Chinese censors to block shortened links (as they routinely do with http://bit.ly itself) it also makes it impossible for most mail or tweet recipients to know a priori that the links are actually being resolved by bit.ly and not a fly-by-night operation of limited trustworthiness. Luckily, these links are all interchangeable. That is, bit.ly Pro links can be substituted with http://bit.ly links and will work fine. My intention therefore is to replace these "Pro" links with http://bit.ly links whenever possible. However, if you see other link shortening domains leak through in messages that I create myself, you can safely assume that they are actually bit.ly links. Frankly, one thing that isn't needed in the link shortening world is new services designed in ways that undermine confidence and increase user confusion. --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator