Bitly QR Code Preview Page Advertising: Difference between revisions

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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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 ==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>