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The problem isn't that web sites or domains expire. It's that adding another redirection like URL shorteners makes another point of failure. And URL shorteners
by slabity 4y ago
The problem isn't that web sites or domains expire. It's that adding another redirection like URL shorteners makes another point of failure. And URL shorteners create points of failure across many points. It also makes it more difficult for archival services to keep accurate links to those expired sites as it then needs to keep track of every shortener on every website.
- vbezhenar 4y agoIf url shortener is part of the site, that’s not an issue. Another point is: you can (in theory) change location of url shortener destination, so shortener link can actually outlive original link.
- PinguTS 4y agoThat is the theory. But who actually does that? Who actively monitors if link, which is directed to is dead and then tries to find correct location where the content have moved to? The only possible solution right now would be to point to the dated content at the Web Archive.
- yakak 4y agoAnd now you've got two problems.. If you see an upvoted short link, how do you know the party controlling the link hasn't changed the destination from a site everyone trusts? The person controlling the short link may not even be the person sharing it on a platform that trusts them. With normal sites and content manipulation there's at least a reputational aspect that tends to stick.
- rplnt 4y agoIt also hides what was being "shortened". If I find expired url science.com/astrologist-dicovers-alien-life I know who owned it and can guess what the content was. Doesn't happen with random characters or 3rd party short-names.