Comments on: Why tiny URLs change how we design

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:35:39 +0000

Not that URL shortening has created this need for thought, but it possibly promotes more so the fact that people don’t always come in through the front door. More people probably get to your sites using links like these to read articles and see photos.

The home page is still important but don’t put all eggs in one place. You won’t sell them that way.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:06:49 +0000

Block the Toast? What? Tell them you need it for research.

By: King Tom

King Tom — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:49:39 +0000

I have to agree with Big G. I’m less inclined to click on a link if the URL doesn’t give a hint as to what the page is. Not just for a security standpoint on my home computer, but, also, if I were to, and this is just hypothetical, be browsing at work. I’m not going to click on a shortened URL that would take me to a site that could get me in trouble (and where I work, they block everything, even this site).

By: JuanO

JuanO — Sat, 23 May 2009 17:52:54 +0000

I like how Flickr is starting their own URL shortener, that gives the shortened URL some context, right? I read some stuff on Rev=canonical, I guess their argument is the same as yours, I think. Anyway, hopefully something gets figured out because it is very frustrating sometimes.

By: Big G

Big G — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:07:57 +0000

“Does http://is.gd/Cn6K go to a video? A photo? Music? A blog post?

You don’t know where it goes and unless the person sending the link did a good job of providing context, otherwise you won’t know until you land.”

From a security standpoint, you also have no idea where that link is going to go. That link could very easily go to an exploit on an attackers site, resulting in your computer being owned before you even realize it.

G+