This post initially appeared on FreeTech4Teachers.com. It has actually been utilized without approval if you see it elsewhere. Websites that regularly take my (Richard Byrnes) work include CloudComputin, TodayHeadline, and 711Web.

Ive attempted the “+” technique with a bunch of other URL shortening tools and TinyURL is the just one besides Bitly that Ive discovered it to deal with..
Whats the trick?

Recently I wrote
an article about how to see whats concealed behind a Bitly shortened URL without really clicking the link. The trick is to include “+” to the end of the Bitly URL to see whats behind it without clicking on it. A few people emailed me to ask if the that dealt with other URL reducing services. The answer is it works with
TinyURLs..

The trick is to add a “+” to the end of any TinyURL address in order to arrive on a safe TinyURL page that exposes what the initial link was that got reduced. You can then decide if you desire to click through to the destination or not.
If you desire to try this with a TinyURL, tinyurl.com/emkns9a8 will lead you to the page for the Practical Ed Tech Virtual Summer Camp, however including a “+” at the end of that TinyURL will take you to the page where you can see the original link without clicking on it.

The technique is to add “+” to the end of the Bitly URL to see whats behind it without clicking on it. A couple of people emailed me to ask if the that worked with other URL reducing services. If you see it elsewhere, it has actually been used without consent.

Applications for EducationAs I composed recently, developing good digital citizenship and cyber safety skills is something that everyone should be assisting our trainees do. Showing them little suggestions like this one to prevent clicking on suspicious links is among the methods that we can help our students develop their digital citizenship and cyber safety abilities.

Heres a video overview of how to see whats behind a TinyURL without really clicking the link.