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I forgot why we even needed url shortening until I remembered I used them specifically for Twitter due to the character limits. It's odd that people here are su

by nyxtom 8y ago

I forgot why we even needed url shortening until I remembered I used them specifically for Twitter due to the character limits. It's odd that people here are surprised by the analytics, and tracking behavior used by t.co links. Bit.ly is another example of this and they have quite an extensive data science team devoted to this. That being said bit.ly does use a standard HTTP redirect

TeMPOraL 8y ago
I remember the first URL shorteners I found; the primary purpose seemed to be to make life easier to each other when chatting on IMs, as long and crazy URLs (like Google's) tend to break in chat windows. But then someone added tracking clicks. Suddenly, people would send shortened URLs just to track how many people visited the resource. And then adtech took off and everything went to shit. I don't use link shorteners anymore.
perlgeek 8y ago
> It's odd that people here are surprised by the analytics, and tracking behavior used by t.co links. For EU citizens, collecting data either requires a very strong reason (like not being to operate the service otherwise), or opt-in. You can absolutely operate an URL shortening service without massive data collection, which means they need to get an opt-in for data storage from every EU citizen clicking on such a link, otherwise they are in huge trouble with GDPR. So yes, I can absolutely be surprised that they don't seem to care about the law.
jaclaz 8y ago
On some boards there are "word filters on", so you couldn't post a link to (example only): https://www.hirokomatsushita.com/ https://www.hirokomatsushita.com/ as it would come out as: https://www.hirokomatsu****a.com/ https://www.hirokomatsu****a.com/
_pmf_ 8y ago
> I forgot why we even needed url shortening until I remembered I used them specifically for Twitter due to the character limits. That's the cover story.
randomsearch 8y ago
We don’t _need_ shorteners. Twitter could exclude a URL’s length from the limit. Etc
- thinkingemote 8y ago
  For some URLs Twitter does exclude it. For example using a url parameter with the intent API or attaching a gif or video.
- Crosseye_Jack 8y ago
  Link shorteners in general are still handy esp when communicating the link in an medium that you can’t click on the url. TV, Radio, saying the link in a YouTube video (though that does have the description), saying the link during a live stream (though you have chat) and for just pure branding.

by nyxtom 8y ago

TeMPOraL 8y ago

I remember the first URL shorteners I found; the primary purpose seemed to be to make life easier to each other when chatting on IMs, as long and crazy URLs (like Google's) tend to break in chat windows. But then someone added tracking clicks. Suddenly, people would send shortened URLs just to track how many people visited the resource. And then adtech took off and everything went to shit. I don't use link shorteners anymore.

perlgeek 8y ago

> It's odd that people here are surprised by the analytics, and tracking behavior used by t.co links. For EU citizens, collecting data either requires a very strong reason (like not being to operate the service otherwise), or opt-in. You can absolutely operate an URL shortening service without massive data collection, which means they need to get an opt-in for data storage from every EU citizen clicking on such a link, otherwise they are in huge trouble with GDPR. So yes, I can absolutely be surprised that they don't seem to care about the law.

jaclaz 8y ago

On some boards there are "word filters on", so you couldn't post a link to (example only): https://www.hirokomatsushita.com/ https://www.hirokomatsushita.com/ as it would come out as: https://www.hirokomatsu****a.com/ https://www.hirokomatsu****a.com/

_pmf_ 8y ago

> I forgot why we even needed url shortening until I remembered I used them specifically for Twitter due to the character limits. That's the cover story.

randomsearch 8y ago

We don’t _need_ shorteners. Twitter could exclude a URL’s length from the limit. Etc

thinkingemote 8y ago
For some URLs Twitter does exclude it. For example using a url parameter with the intent API or attaching a gif or video.
Crosseye_Jack 8y ago
Link shorteners in general are still handy esp when communicating the link in an medium that you can’t click on the url. TV, Radio, saying the link in a YouTube video (though that does have the description), saying the link during a live stream (though you have chat) and for just pure branding.