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Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

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Re: Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

#11

Post by mik3y »

rkalla wrote: post #8

@judk's comment should be higher... it is the unfortunate cycle of ad-supported startups. imgur grew out of the garden that is reddit; it was suppose to replace all those other crappy hosting services. It's been known for a while that directly navigating to a i.com/direct-link.jpg link costs imgur because they get no ad impressions from those loads. While I think this is the eventual trend of every imgur page load, t…

Semi-OT, but: Considering how much reddit seems to depend on imgur and image hosting in general, how long will it be until reddit handles the image hosting themselves?

Sure it would add a ton of new costs and headaches (takedowns, etc), but don't you have to have a plan for this if you're Yishan? Imgur hasn't exactly been subtle about adding reddit-like features (comments, comment ranking, categories, etc)..

Re: Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

#12

Post by rkuykendall-com »

mik3y wrote: post #11
rkalla wrote: post #8

@judk's comment should be higher... it is the unfortunate cycle of ad-supported startups. imgur grew out of the garden that is reddit; it was suppose to replace all those other crappy hosting services. It's been known for a while that directly navigating to a i.com/direct-link.jpg link costs imgur because they get no ad impressions from those loads. While I think this is the eventual trend of every imgur page load, t…

Semi-OT, but: Considering how much reddit seems to depend on imgur and image hosting in general, how long will it be until reddit handles the image hosting themselves? Sure it would add a ton of new costs and headaches (takedowns, etc), but don't you have to have a plan for this if you're Yishan? Imgur hasn't exactly been subtle about adding reddit-like features (comments, comment ranking, categories, etc)..

Why would Reddit spend money they don't have to?

New free image hosting services pop up every few months to try to take imgur down as the king of Reddit. So far, they've been unable to maintain any leads gained, but if imgur screws with Reddit they will be replaced in a heartbeat.

Re: Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

#13

Post by stordoff »

ehutch79 wrote: post #2

I honestly don't see an issue. if you're sharing links to images on imgur, you're denying them ad revenue and just leaching bandwidth. I'm all for adblockers, but complaining you can't direct link images is kinda...

The creator of imgur (MrGrim on Reddit) has said on multiple occasions that hotlinking is acceptable way to use imgur:

Four years ago - "I created imgur because the other image hosting sites forced you to see their ad-ridden pages (TinyPIC). I would never do the same to you. If you want to direct link to the image, then by all means do so."[1]

Three years ago - "People linking to the page rather than the image is what keeps imgur going. If everyone linked to the direct image then imgur would have no source of revenue. However, I want people to use the service however they want, and by no means would I ever force anyone to do it one certain way. So, I like it when people link to the page because that's how imgur makes money, but you don't have to do it if you don't want to. I'm just happy that you like the service."[2]

One year ago - "No, I don't think [restricting hotlinking] will ever happen. At least not that I can foresee."[3]

[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/9tlwi/im_the_imgur_guy...

[2] http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/eicjf/im_the_imgur_guy...

[3] http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/y81ju/i_created_imgur_...

Re: Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

#14

Post by [deleted] »

bane wrote: post #3
ehutch79 wrote: post #2

I honestly don't see an issue. if you're sharing links to images on imgur, you're denying them ad revenue and just leaching bandwidth. I'm all for adblockers, but complaining you can't direct link images is kinda...

One of the problems is the comments on imgur. If you thought youtube was bad. Now imagine posting a picture of a sunset or a cute dog or whatever, your mom or 8 year old nephew or whoever clicks it and it's full of "look at the fucking sun!" or similar.

[deleted]

Re: Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

#16

Post by sorahn »

stordoff wrote: post #13
ehutch79 wrote: post #2

I honestly don't see an issue. if you're sharing links to images on imgur, you're denying them ad revenue and just leaching bandwidth. I'm all for adblockers, but complaining you can't direct link images is kinda...

The creator of imgur (MrGrim on Reddit) has said on multiple occasions that hotlinking is acceptable way to use imgur: Four years ago - "I created imgur because the other image hosting sites forced you to see their ad-ridden pages (TinyPIC). I would never do the same to you. If you want to direct link to the image, then by all means do so."[1] Three years ago - "People linking to the page rather than the image is wha…

It was already stated, but Imgur was created by a redditor, for reddit. Facebook already is an image host, twitter is too.

I get free access to a usenet server for being inside my ISPs network. Others have to pay to use the same server if their outside the network. It's the same deal.

Re: Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

#17

Post by mmahemoff »

I tried linking to a photo I'm hosting in a Pro account: https://twitter.com/mahemoff/status/431487389866139648

Even for a Pro account, the image redirects from Twitter. It doesn't redirect me, but it redirects everyone else (I tested from Incognito mode). Which seems not quite what I thought I was paying for.

Also as a paid user, if I click on anyone else's images, they still redirect like they would for a guest/free user.

EDIT:

Thanks to Haywain for spotting it changes on 2nd load. Can be replicated:

* Open fresh incognito window

* Visit Twitter link and click on imgur

* It redirects

* Go back to Twitter window and click on imgur link

* No redirect - it links straight to the image

I verified this with a random imgur link too, so it seems there's no difference between Pro and free.

Re: Imgur is Covertly Redirecting Image Links on Facebook and Twitter

#19

Post by sli »

I tried this out using the Twitter search link provided in the article and was not redirected a single time when clicking Imgur links in the search results. Either Imgur is only redirecting some folks or this was just some temporary thing. I'm also not logged in to Imgur currently.
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