Don’t use Digg as a URL shortner

There is no shortage of URL shortners, but Digg.com URL shortening service provided one of the easiest ways to create short URLs. When the diggbar launched Digg was accused of framing other sites, and this was later changed so that non logged in users will go directly to the source while logged in users had the option to use diggbar or turn it off. Last weekend Digg changed the way short URLs created before worked, instead of directing the users to the original source URL they are redirecting to the Digg story pages for non logged in users.

Today Digg announced that this change was intended and Digg is not a URL shortner, it is created to increase the user experience of diggers. Fine they would have announced the same when the changes were made, they didn’t and some users are upset with the change.

Since it is redirecting the URLs to digg story pages this is not useful for creating short urls and sharing it with friends via twitter or Facebook, because you never know who is logged in and who is not. I don’t know how it will benefit Digg, if you share links with digg short URL then it adds to the confusion. The better thing to do is not to use Digg.com as a short URL script.

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