Link Discrimination on Twitter! *Updated*

How I wish this was a post about the whole Link/Zelda thing, but sadly not this time.

I use Twitter.

I also blog,  write, and create, and post things in other places occasionally. When that happens I like to share those things with people on Twitter. Given the complete lack of space, I often use link shortening websites to conserve characters. Lately, I've noticed a trend...

"This request looks like it might be automated. To protect our users from spam and other malicious activity, we can't complete this action right now. Please try again later." - Message from Twitter that miraculously goes away if you just delete the Bit.do link from your tweet... hmmm...

Now, I use several different websites based on what I'm looking for in a link shortening experience. If I want to be able to track the clicks, I'll use bit.do. If I'm having a cute day, I'll use Ow.ly. Sometimes I'll be in the mood for something weird and I'll grab goo.gl. Once and a while, nostalgia will get the better of me and I'll throw in a tinyURL!

The point is, depending on what service I choose, Twitter seems to react very poorly whenever I use something it thinks is "automated" or "spammy". My concern is that I should be able to use whatever link shortening service I want, provided it is not malicious. All of these links redirect back to my blog or Tumblr or a fun picture. It's hardly like I'm spamming objectionable material, unless you hate cuteness and humor. But seriously Twitter, why the discrimination? Why do you seem to accept some links without a problem and others you exile like they are trying to beat you up and steal your lunch money?

Currently, I have no issues posting from Ow.ly but every single time I try to use Bit.do Twitter pops up and tells me I'm being potentially malicious! I can then turn around and post the exact same shortened link from Ow.ly with no issues at all! Clearly, the redirect isn't the problem, nor is the end page. This must mean that Twitter just hates Bit.do for some inexplicable reason? I would love to know what that reason is!

After clicking around, I haven't found any serious answers. Twitter says if this happens you can submit a ticket, or change your password, and neither of those have helped. I don't see any blog posts about why this happens or anyone else having the problem so maybe it's just me.

My current fear is that Ow.ly is associated with a particular Twitter client, whom we will call "TootSweet". That client has a paid service providing link tracking and SEO services. Perhaps they have some sort of exclusive agreement with Twitter to always accept their links.

I'm not saying it's a conspiracy. I just hate discriminatory policies. It seems to me that Bit.do is being unfairly spammed out.

Does this happen to anyone else? Anybody have any actual tips on why it happens? Are there other link shortening services that are free and provide non-invasive click tracking without signing up for some sort of plan? Let me know in the comments.

To test this for yourself, I've created a link to this post on Ow.ly and one on Bit.do and posted them at the bottom. Try posting them individually into Twitter and see if it will let you post! I already tried and got the very same error message. Shameful.


*Update*

Apparently I am not alone in this! Several other people report the same issues whenever they try to link something from Bit.do, even this post! Please let me know in the comments or on Twitter @nonsteader if you are experiencing this as well.

Equal links for all! Link discrimination is real!


http://ow.ly/UfRWG
http://bit.do/Discrimination_on_Twitter