Bitly is a handy URL shortener that Ive used for several years. As a signed up user I can create customized, shortened URLs that individuals can really spell. I use these whenever I require to share a link to a Canva or Google Slides discussion due to the fact that the default URLs provided by those services are incoherent and always long..

This post initially appeared on FreeTech4Teachers.com. If you see it somewhere else, it has been used without permission. Websites that frequently take my (Richard Byrnes) work consist of CloudComputin, TodayHeadline, and 711Web.

Unfortunately, not all Bitly users are utilizing them for great factors. Some individuals use them to hide wicked links. There is an easy method to rapidly identify whats behind a Bitly URL without in fact clicking on the link. The trick is to just include a “+” to the end of any Bitly URL. When you include the “+” the URL will reroute to Bitly rather of to whatever the initial URL was. That will then show you the Bitly page on which the reduced URL is hosted and will reveal you what the original link was..
You can try this technique with a URL that I recently shortened. Bit.ly/ THWTAPRIL will lead you straight to a copy of the slides that I utilized in my current Intro to Teaching History With Technology webinar. Bit.ly/ THWTAPRIL+ will lead you to the Bitly page where you can see my original discussion URL and see when I produced the shortened URL..
Watch this short video to see how you can use the “+” technique to find out whats hidden behind a Bitly link..

Applications for Education.
Structure good digital citizenship and cyber security skills is something that all of us ought to be assisting our students do. Revealing them little pointers like this one to prevent clicking on suspicious links is among the ways that we can help our students build their digital citizenship and cyber safety abilities.

Bitly is a convenient URL shortener that Ive utilized for many years. There is an easy way to quickly determine whats behind a Bitly URL without in fact clicking on the link. When you include the “+” the URL will reroute to Bitly instead of to whatever the initial URL was.