# Is there a reason I cannot use Google's URL shortener on Sports Illustrated links? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883 "2016-03-22T19:38:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/1 "2016-03-22T19:38:34Z")
This is a first for me. I use URL shorteners quite a bit in my work and this is the first time I’ve seen a URL refuse to be shortened. As in, the shortener said it could not do it. Google’s shortener no less. For those unaware a URL shortener turns a link such as [Straight Dope Message Board - Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/) into a shorter one like [Straight Dope Message Board - Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.](http://goo.gl/FVPzlT). Both links take you to the same place but in articles and emails and such the shorter one is not so hard to read (well…the SDMB URL is not bad but some can be quite lengthy). So try [http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/03/21/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-buddy-hield-kansas-maryland](http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/03/21/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-buddy-hield-kansas-maryland) Then go to [https://goo.gl/](https://goo.gl/) (Google’s shortener) and paste that SI URL just above and try to shorten it. You get a message that says the URL cannot be shortened. Note that you CAN shorten that URL using Bitly and it returns a vanity shortened URL (in this case [http://on.si.com/1RhEBMV](http://on.si.com/1RhEBMV)). This amazes me. I can’t believe Google would capitulate to someone on something like this. What’s more I can find no info on the internet about either Sports Illustrated or others being able to do this. That is also a first for me. Is my PC broken or is something else going on? ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/2 "2016-03-22T19:48:15Z")
There’s definitely something on Google’s end preventing this. If I put in the SI link, I get the message you get. But if I choose “copy link location” from your post, I can make a link that works, presumably because that link starts with " [http://api.viglink.com/api/](http://api.viglink.com/api/) " ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/3 "2016-03-22T20:01:23Z")
It doesn’t work for me either. And I can’t shorten the Sports Illustrated homepage ([http://www.si.com/](http://www.si.com/)) either. It must be a restriction by them. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/4 "2016-03-22T20:01:59Z")
Google’s URL shortener is intended only for Google properties. So it will work on YouTube, but not Vimeo. Try bit.ly instead. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/5 "2016-03-22T20:03:39Z")
No, I was able to use the Google tool on a Time magazine page, selected at random from the homepage. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/6 "2016-03-22T21:58:45Z")
For the record, i will NOT click on a link that uses a URL shortener, and I always advised against it when I was dong tech work for a school system. Good way to get hit with malware or inundated with unwanted porn. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/7 "2016-03-22T22:10:16Z")
Is there no love for the classics? TinyUrl was around long before those new-fangled shorteners came around. This > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > So try [http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/03/21/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-buddy-hield-kansas-maryland](http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/03/21/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-buddy-hield-kansas-maryland) turns into this. [http://tinyurl.com/jrumpa8](http://tinyurl.com/jrumpa8) ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/8 "2016-03-23T02:31:20Z")
Thought it might be the 2 letter domian name, as this doesn’t work either [http://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/full-episodes](http://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/full-episodes) but other twofers do. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/9 "2016-03-23T02:43:35Z")
That’s an interesting idea (that the problem is the two-letter domain name). So I tested it, by editing the Sports Illustrated link in the OP, changing [si.com](http://si.com) to [sportsillustrated.com](http://sportsillustrated.com). Once I did that, I was able to use the Google tool. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/10 "2016-03-23T09:02:11Z")
> [@Cugel](#): > > Thought it might be the 2 letter domian name, as this doesn’t work either > [Comedy Central The Daily Show Fan Page](http://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/full-episodes) > but other twofers do. Both cc and si are valid country codes. Maybe that’s the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/11 "2016-03-23T09:42:34Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Then go to [https://goo.gl/](https://goo.gl/) (Google’s shortener) and paste that SI URL just above and try to shorten it. You get a message that says the URL cannot be shortened. Goo.gl appears to be programmed to reject [si.com](http://si.com) … You can modify the domain name of the SI url , and it gets rejected. You can try really simple URL’s at [si.com](http://si.com) and they get rejected. Goo.gl is programmed to reject [si.com](http://si.com) … ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/12 "2016-03-23T11:23:37Z")
How interesting. I use URL shorteners all the time, mostly goo.gl and tinyURL. I just had to try it myself, because I’d never encountered “ **This URL cannot be shortened. Please try another one.** ” OP’s original URL: [http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/03/21/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-buddy-hield-kansas-maryland](http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/03/21/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-buddy-hield-kansas-maryland) ==\> **This URL cannot be shortened. Please try another one.** interesting. As **Dewey Finn** said, changed OP’s URL, replaced [si.com](http://si.com) with [sportsillustrated.com](http://sportsillustrated.com): [Sports Illustrated](http://www.sportsillustrated.com/college-basketball/2016/03/21/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-buddy-hield-kansas-maryland) ==\> Success, [Sports Illustrated](http://goo.gl/59j2WC) This policy page explains some instances where goo.gl will not work but it does not explain why an [si.com](http://si.com) URL cannot be shortened while the same URL (but with [sportsillustrated.com](http://sportsillustrated.com) instead of [si.com](http://si.com)) can be: [https://goo.gl/policy.html](https://goo.gl/policy.html). > [@](#): > > Google URL Shortener > goo.gl allows you to track, in real-time, the clicks and referrers on any shortened URL. Please remember that goo.gl directs you to content that is already in existence on the internet. This is not content hosted by Google. > > Our policies > Do not use this service for spamming or linking to content that may harm other users. > > Do not use goo.gl for URLs that are either executable/package files (like .apk, .dmg, .exe, .zip, etc.) or that contain only IP addresses, or for shortening URL re-directors (either off goo.gl or via other URL shortening services). > > Any such use may result in the goo.gl link being disabled. We may also choose to report to appropriate authorities. > > Please report abuse here if you believe that the link is violating our policies. > > Please use this form to request content takedown under applicable laws. > > © 2015 Google Help Report Spam Privacy Policy Acceptable Usage Policy Terms of Service Google Home ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/13 "2016-03-23T11:39:22Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > For the record, i will NOT click on a link that uses a URL shortener, and I always advised against it when I was dong tech work for a school system. Good way to get hit with malware or inundated with unwanted porn. This. The only legitimate reason to use a URL shortener is if you’re including it in a character-limited medium like SMS or Twitter. Otherwise I assume you’re obfuscating the actual site URL for a reason and I ain’t going to click it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/14 "2016-03-23T11:44:58Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Good way to get hit with malware or inundated with unwanted porn. I know what “malware” is, but what’s “unwanted porn”? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/15 "2016-03-23T11:52:52Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > This. The only legitimate reason to use a URL shortener is if you’re including it in a character-limited medium like SMS or Twitter. Otherwise I assume you’re obfuscating the actual site URL for a reason and I ain’t going to click it. Or, to shorten the URL to put into an email. Don’t be so paranoid! Maps links, especially, can be annoyingly long. This: [Google Maps](https://goo.gl/tcjC0B) (Or even this!): [Google Maps](http://tinyurl.com/titusCanyon-toRacetrack) Is so much nicer than this: [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Titus+Canyon+Rd,+Beatty,+NV+89003/The+Racetrack,+California/@36.8170246,-117.1818363,8z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x80b8a148013b6d0f:0x9109081ac8445489!1m2!1m1!1s0x80bf6098557ef0cd:0x769843635ebc2486!3e0) Edited – and even that was snipped here on SDMB. That full URL includes (I removed the [https://www](https://www). Part) \*\*\*[Google Maps](http://google.com/maps/dir/Titus+Canyon+Rd,+Beatty,+NV+89003/The+Racetrack,+California/@36.8170246,-117.1818363,8z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x80b8a148013b6d0f:0x9109081ac8445489!1m2!1m1!1s0x80bf6098557ef0cd:0x769843635ebc2486!3e0) * * * ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/16 "2016-03-23T14:27:08Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > This. The only legitimate reason to use a URL shortener is if you’re including it in a character-limited medium like SMS or Twitter. Otherwise I assume you’re obfuscating the actual site URL for a reason and I ain’t going to click it. > [@Bullitt](#): > > Or, to shorten the URL to put into an email. Don’t be so paranoid! > > Maps links, especially, can be annoyingly long. > > This: [Google Maps](https://goo.gl/tcjC0B) > > (Or even this!): [Google Maps](http://tinyurl.com/titusCanyon-toRacetrack) > > Is so much nicer than this: [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Titus+Canyon+Rd,+Beatty,+NV+89003/The+Racetrack,+California/@36.8170246,-117.1818363,8z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x80b8a148013b6d0f:0x9109081ac8445489!1m2!1m1!1s0x80bf6098557ef0cd:0x769843635ebc2486!3e0) Edited – and even that was snipped here on SDMB. > > That full URL includes (I removed the [https://www](https://www). Part) \*\*\*[Google Maps](http://google.com/maps/dir/Titus+Canyon+Rd,+Beatty,+NV+89003/The+Racetrack,+California/@36.8170246,-117.1818363,8z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x80b8a148013b6d0f:0x9109081ac8445489!1m2!1m1!1s0x80bf6098557ef0cd:0x769843635ebc2486!3e0) > > * * * There’s no character limit in email. And if the full URL won’t fit in a tweet, then Twitter isn’t the proper channel to send it. Just because your favorite tool is a shiny new hammer doesn’t mean every problem is a nail. NEVER click on a link if you can’t tell where it goes without clicking first. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/17 "2016-03-23T14:31:19Z")
Yeah, map links I always shorten, and appreciate it if they are shortened. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/18 "2016-03-23T15:50:15Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > This. The only legitimate reason to use a URL shortener is if you’re including it in a character-limited medium like SMS or Twitter. Otherwise I assume you’re obfuscating the actual site URL for a reason and I ain’t going to click it. > [@Doug\_K](#): > > There’s no character limit in email. And if the full URL won’t fit in a tweet, then Twitter isn’t the proper channel to send it. Just because your favorite tool is a shiny new hammer doesn’t mean every problem is a nail. > > NEVER click on a link if you can’t tell where it goes without clicking first. I think that this flavor of paranoia is becoming outdated. We have all sorts of companies trying to hide spyware in otherwise legitimate downloads; we have drive-by downloads from compromised ads; we have phishing attacks – all these are pushing out the old methods of delivering malware. A full-length link won’t do you any good if you’re too lazy to notice that it’s a cleverly-misspelled variation of a legitimate site. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/19 "2016-03-23T15:53:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, map links I always shorten, and appreciate it if they are shortened. Google maps allows for a shortened URL of their links, which is convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883/20 "2016-03-23T15:56:06Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > I think that this flavor of paranoia is becoming outdated. We have all sorts of companies trying to hide spyware in otherwise legitimate downloads; we have drive-by downloads from compromised ads; we have phishing attacks – all these are pushing out the old methods of delivering malware. A full-length link won’t do you any good if you’re too lazy to notice that it’s a cleverly-misspelled variation of a legitimate site. What’s more is that many systems allow you to see the actual URL that you will be taken to. I always check this before clicking on a hidden or shortened/dereferenced link. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reason-i-cannot-use-googles-url-shortener-on-sports-illustrated-links/749883.md?page=2)