[OT] : An open blog post to bit.ly

I am not sure when it happened, but at some point, bit.ly marked all URLs to connect.microsoft.com as dangerous.  So for example, I created this shortened link http://bit.ly/fKKQPT which just goes to http://web.archive.org/web/*/https://connect.microsoft.com/sql/.  When you click on the shortened link, you get the following warning (click to embiggen):

 

Unfortunately, bit.ly is the default URL shortening service in tweetdeck, and a lot of people don't even realize what is happening when people click on the links that have been shortened on their behalf. The clickers may not ultimately click through to the link because of the big red hand (or because they can't find the link way down the page).  In several cases I have seen quite knowledgeable folks follow up on a connect link suggesting that the link was bad or must have been mangled.  And worse yet, some people may suddenly think I'm a bad guy distributing phishing or other dangerous links.  Not cool.

Now, I like some of the benefits that bit.ly provides, such as optional link customization, API integration into tweetdeck, detailed stats and aggregation, etc.  But until the global "all connect URLs are poison" ban has been lifted I, for one, have changed my URL shortening service to is.gd:


 

Aaron Bertrand

I am a passionate technologist with industry experience dating back to Classic ASP and SQL Server 6.5. I am a long-time Microsoft MVP, write at Simple Talk, SQLPerformance, and MSSQLTips, and have had the honor of speaking at more conferences than I can remember. In non-tech life, I am a father of two, a huge hockey and football fan, and my pronouns are he/him. If I've helped you out, consider thanking me with a coffee. :-)

5 Responses

  1. Jason Coombes says:

    I believe this started happening around the time that the announcement was made that Drive Extender would be removed from Windows Home Server. This has generated a lot of tweets with shortened links to the same URL:
    http://web.archive.org/web/*/https://connect.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/feedback/details/624029/add-drive-extender-back-to-vail
    This must have triggered some protection that bit.ly uses. As of writing that connect case has over 4,000 votes.

  2. AaronBertrand says:

    Aaron, that's different.  The bit.ly issue actually disrupts me.  The other one does not.

  3. AaronBertrand says:

    Adam, yes I have sent them feedback, and have also pointed them to this blog post.

  4. SQLvariant says:

    Since you're blogging about stuff like this would you mind pointing out to tweetdeck that when you switch over to the "light" theme > then go back into settings: the words "Minimize button should" are no longer visible on the General tab?
    😀

  5. cinahcaM madA says:

    Have you tried contacting bit.ly about this? If not, I will.