Bitly QR Code Preview Page Advertising: Difference between revisions

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|Type=Terms of Service

|Description=Bitly has introduced "preview pages" for QR Codes and Bitly links, which may contain advertising, before directing users to the destination link.

}}[[Bitly]] has introduced "preview pages" for QR ~~Codes~~ and Bitly links, which may contain advertising, before users are directed to the destination link. Users must subscribe to a paid plan in order to remove the preview page.

}}[[Bitly]] has introduced "preview pages" for QR code and Bitly links, which may contain advertising, before users are directed to the destination link. Users must subscribe to a paid plan in order to remove the preview page.

==Background==

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==Incident==

[[File:Bitly's Terms of Service Change.jpg|alt=An email explaining the change coming to Bitly's Terms of Service.|thumb|Bitly's Terms of Service change announcement email, explaining the upcoming "Preview Pages"]]

In Early 2025, [[Bitly]] changed its ~~Terms~~ of ~~Service~~(ToS) to implement "Destination Previews," or more commonly referred to as "preview pages," that appear before the user is directed to the destination of a QR ~~Code~~ or Bitly link.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=7 Feb 2025 |title=Broken Bits |url=https://tedium.co/2025/02/07/bitly-terms-of-service-change/#:~:text=The%20infamous%20terms%20of%20service,selling%20is%20a%20decaying%20commodity. |access-date=15 Aug 2025 |website=Tedium}}</ref> These pages, explained in an email sent to users, allow the user to preview the content of the page before visiting the website. However, if the user who shared the Bitly link is currently using a free plan, advertisements will appear on the preview page of their link, which can only be disabled with a subscription to a paid plan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Megan |title=Why are there ads on my links? |url=https://support.bitly.com/hc/en-us/articles/32874287800333-Why-are-there-ads-on-my-links#:~:text=Bitly%20is%20now%20using%20ads,of%20our%20paid%20plans%20here. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Bitly Support}}</ref>

In Early 2025, [[Bitly]] changed its terms of service (ToS) to implement "Destination Previews," or more commonly referred to as "preview pages," that appear before the user is directed to the destination of a QR code or Bitly link.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=7 Feb 2025 |title=Broken Bits |url=https://tedium.co/2025/02/07/bitly-terms-of-service-change/#:~:text=The%20infamous%20terms%20of%20service,selling%20is%20a%20decaying%20commodity. |access-date=15 Aug 2025 |website=Tedium}}</ref> These pages, explained in an email sent to users, allow the user to preview the content of the page before visiting the website. However, if the user who shared the Bitly link is currently using a free plan, advertisements will appear on the preview page of their link, which can only be disabled with a subscription to a paid plan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Megan |title=Why are there ads on my links? |url=https://support.bitly.com/hc/en-us/articles/32874287800333-Why-are-there-ads-on-my-links#:~:text=Bitly%20is%20now%20using%20ads,of%20our%20paid%20plans%20here. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Bitly Support}}</ref>

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==Consumer response==

While the extra click required to view content may potentially ~~fustrate~~ some users,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Alex |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Goodbye Bitly… New Preview Page is a Major Step Back |url=https://webdesignerdepot.com/goodbye-bit-ly-new-preview-page-is-a-major-step-back/#:~:text=The%20Painful%20Reality,by%20the%20delay. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Web Designer Depot}}</ref> the main ~~greivence~~ of the new feature was the advertising that may appear on the preview page.<ref name=":0" /> Many ~~fustrated~~ users have claimed that [[Bitly]] has lost the convenience it was once known for, and has begun using tactics that force the user to pay a sum of money to bring it back.

While the extra click required to view content may potentially frustrate some users,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Alex |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Goodbye Bitly… New Preview Page is a Major Step Back |url=https://webdesignerdepot.com/goodbye-bit-ly-new-preview-page-is-a-major-step-back/#:~:text=The%20Painful%20Reality,by%20the%20delay. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Web Designer Depot}}</ref> the main grievance of the new feature was the advertising that may appear on the preview page.<ref name=":0" /> Many frustrated users have claimed that [[Bitly]] has lost the convenience it was once known for, and has begun using tactics that force the user to pay a sum of money to bring it back.

==References==

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |Type=Terms of Service
 |Description=Bitly has introduced "preview pages" for QR Codes and Bitly links, which may contain advertising, before directing users to the destination link.
-}}[[Bitly]] has introduced "preview pages" for QR Codes and Bitly links, which may contain advertising, before users are directed to the destination link. Users must subscribe to a paid plan in order to remove the preview page.
+}}[[Bitly]] has introduced "preview pages" for QR code and Bitly links, which may contain advertising, before users are directed to the destination link. Users must subscribe to a paid plan in order to remove the preview page.
 ==Background==
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ==Incident==
 [[File:Bitly's Terms of Service Change.jpg|alt=An email explaining the change coming to Bitly's Terms of Service.|thumb|Bitly's Terms of Service change announcement email, explaining the upcoming "Preview Pages"]]
-In Early 2025, [[Bitly]] changed its Terms of Service(ToS) to implement "Destination Previews," or more commonly referred to as "preview pages," that appear before the user is directed to the destination of a QR Code or Bitly link.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=7 Feb 2025 |title=Broken Bits |url=https://tedium.co/2025/02/07/bitly-terms-of-service-change/#:~:text=The%20infamous%20terms%20of%20service,selling%20is%20a%20decaying%20commodity. |access-date=15 Aug 2025 |website=Tedium}}</ref> These pages, explained in an email sent to users, allow the user to preview the content of the page before visiting the website. However, if the user who shared the Bitly link is currently using a free plan, advertisements will appear on the preview page of their link, which can only be disabled with a subscription to a paid plan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Megan |title=Why are there ads on my links? |url=https://support.bitly.com/hc/en-us/articles/32874287800333-Why-are-there-ads-on-my-links#:~:text=Bitly%20is%20now%20using%20ads,of%20our%20paid%20plans%20here. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Bitly Support}}</ref>
+In Early 2025, [[Bitly]] changed its terms of service (ToS) to implement "Destination Previews," or more commonly referred to as "preview pages," that appear before the user is directed to the destination of a QR code or Bitly link.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ernie |date=7 Feb 2025 |title=Broken Bits |url=https://tedium.co/2025/02/07/bitly-terms-of-service-change/#:~:text=The%20infamous%20terms%20of%20service,selling%20is%20a%20decaying%20commodity. |access-date=15 Aug 2025 |website=Tedium}}</ref> These pages, explained in an email sent to users, allow the user to preview the content of the page before visiting the website. However, if the user who shared the Bitly link is currently using a free plan, advertisements will appear on the preview page of their link, which can only be disabled with a subscription to a paid plan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Megan |title=Why are there ads on my links? |url=https://support.bitly.com/hc/en-us/articles/32874287800333-Why-are-there-ads-on-my-links#:~:text=Bitly%20is%20now%20using%20ads,of%20our%20paid%20plans%20here. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Bitly Support}}</ref>
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ==Consumer response==
-While the extra click required to view content may potentially fustrate some users,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Alex |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Goodbye Bitly… New Preview Page is a Major Step Back |url=https://webdesignerdepot.com/goodbye-bit-ly-new-preview-page-is-a-major-step-back/#:~:text=The%20Painful%20Reality,by%20the%20delay. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Web Designer Depot}}</ref> the main greivence of the new feature was the advertising that may appear on the preview page.<ref name=":0" /> Many fustrated users have claimed that [[Bitly]] has lost the convenience it was once known for, and has begun using tactics that force the user to pay a sum of money to bring it back.
+While the extra click required to view content may potentially frustrate some users,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Alex |date=14 Feb 2025 |title=Goodbye Bitly… New Preview Page is a Major Step Back |url=https://webdesignerdepot.com/goodbye-bit-ly-new-preview-page-is-a-major-step-back/#:~:text=The%20Painful%20Reality,by%20the%20delay. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Web Designer Depot}}</ref> the main grievance of the new feature was the advertising that may appear on the preview page.<ref name=":0" /> Many frustrated users have claimed that [[Bitly]] has lost the convenience it was once known for, and has begun using tactics that force the user to pay a sum of money to bring it back.
 ==References==