Bitly QR Code Preview Page Advertising: Difference between revisions

[[Bitly]] is a platform that manages links and shortens URLs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Aug 2023 |title=7 Powerful Link Management Tools to Boost Your Marketing Efforts |url=https://bitly.com/blog/link-management-tools/ |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Bitly}}</ref> Users have often praised [[Bitly]] for its convenience and significant amount of features that allow Bitly links (links shortened with [[Bitly]]) to be properly managed, shortened, and/or branded.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a Bitly Link? |url=https://linklyhq.com/blog/bitly-link#:~:text=1.%20Conciseness,optimize%20their%20strategies. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Linkly}}</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>

[[Bitly]] has claimed that the advertising is necessary to "continue delivering free plans at no cost to our users."<ref name=":1" /> This claim suggests that the advertisements are required for users to continue to have the option to use [[Bitly]] on a free plan.

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.

While some users found [[Bitly]]'s convenient, direct links more trustworthy, others claim the addition of preview pages has increased the trustworthiness of Bitly links. URL shortening is commonly used by bad actors to hide malicious links that may otherwise be detected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Papez |first=Neko |date=4 Jan 2024 |title=URL shortening allows threats to evade URL filtering and categorization tools |url=https://www.menlosecurity.com/blog/url-shortening-allows-threats-to-evade-url-filtering-and-categorization-tools#:~:text=Threat%20actors%20have,by%20Menlo%20Labs. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Menlo Security}}</ref> [[Bitly]]'s ToS change now includes a warning interstitial that appears on potentially dangerous links, and a preview of the destination URL, which some have claimed makes Bitly links more trustworthy and safe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Golombick |first=Chantelle |last2=Glamoslija |first2=Katarina |last3=Davidson |first3=Kate |date=3 Jun 2025 |title=Is Bitly safe? What to know before clicking short links |url=https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/bit-ly-malware-spam/#:~:text=Many%20browsers%20use,or%20credential%20theft. |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=ExpressVPN}}</ref>