A link shortener is a service that replaces a long URL with a short one that redirects to the original, often while counting clicks.
How link shorteners work
You paste a long URL into the service. It stores the destination and gives you a short code on its own domain. When someone opens the short link, the service logs the click and sends an HTTP redirect to the real address.
Why people use them:
- Shorter text in character-limited posts.
- Click counts.
- Cleaner links in print or slides.
The downsides
- Hidden destination: readers cannot see where the link goes, which is also why spammers use shorteners.
- Dependency: if the service shuts down or the account lapses, the links break.
- Little length benefit: X wraps every link with its own t.co shortener and counts it as 23 characters regardless, and other networks show a readable preview.
An example
A post links to a shortened URL. Some readers hesitate to click an unknown domain, and a few network filters treat it as higher risk than a link to your own site.
Why it matters for AI-agent publishing
An agent that pulls links from outside sources may include shortened URLs you cannot inspect at a glance, including ones planted through prompt injection.
SocialHandoff includes a guardrail that blocks known link shorteners in drafts. Use full links with UTM parameters instead, built with the UTM builder.