status-resolved NO_URL_SHORTENERS anymore? Check your signatures

MasterOfMyDomains said:

I was checking my signature link, as a member was in chat, asking if we could advertise in our signatures.
He said his disappeared. I clicked my sig and no_url_shorteners comes up.
When type goo .gl with out the space, no_url_shorteners displays. Also no_url_shorteners shows up if you type goo .gl without space.in chat
Same with bit .ly without space

When did this change?

Check your signatures

Click to expand...

I know I had it appear earlier this year...maybe even late last year. So, it's been awhile.

I just checked and my url shortener was created in March, so maybe they are going thru the system.

@Eric Lyon
Can you fill us in?

I did look into it for you guys and I don't see anything in the rules about no shorteners.

4. Signatures (»)
4.1. Signatures should not have a font size larger than 4.
4.2. Signatures may not include links to sites that contain explicit, sexually-orientated, illegal or obscene content.
4.3. See the Account Levels page for more specifics about permitted number of lines and links.

@Eric Lyon will have the answer I am sure.

MasterOfMyDomains said:

I just checked and my url shortener was created in March, so maybe they are going thru the system.

@Eric Lyon
Can you fill us in?

Click to expand...

URL cloaking was no longer allowed several months ago, as member CJ6 pointed out. There was a very high abuse rate, where cloaking services were being used to disguise explicit, sexually-orientated, illegal or obscene content in signatures. Due to the large scale abuse, we automated the system to prevent anymore short url cloaking.

While it may not be the perfect solution for those that never abused it, it remains the optimal solution to maintain the integrity of the community.

I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding in this matter

Is it possible to use them in private messages or as forum posts?

It's site-wide ("all or nothing") unfortunately.

Sorry for the inconvenience.