Google Updates Plan for Deprecated URL Shortening Service
Google has decided to continue supporting some links created by the deprecated goo.gl URL shortening service. This decision comes after the company received feedback from users, which led to a change in their initial plan to end support entirely.
What is Google URL Shortener?
The Google URL Shortener, also known as goo.gl, was a service that allowed users to shorten long URLs into shorter, more manageable links. In 2018, Google announced that they would be deprecating the service, which meant that they would no longer accept new URLs for shortening. However, they continued to support existing shortened URLs.
The Initial Plan to End Support
Earlier this year, on July 18, Google announced that they would be ending support for all shortened URLs by August 25, 2025. This decision was based on the fact that 99% of the shortened links did not receive any traffic. However, after receiving feedback from users, Google decided to adjust their approach.
The Updated Plan
On August 1, Google announced that they would continue to support shortened URLs that still receive traffic. This means that links that are actively being used will continue to function as normal. However, links that do not receive traffic will no longer be supported after August 25, 2025. Google explained their decision in a statement, saying:
"While we previously announced discontinuing support for all goo.gl URLs after August 25, 2025, we’ve adjusted our approach in order to preserve actively used links.
We understand these links are embedded in countless documents, videos, posts and more, and we appreciate the input received.
…If you get a message that states, “This link will no longer work in the near future”, the link won’t work after August 25 and we recommend transitioning to another URL shortener if you haven’t already.
…All other goo.gl links will be preserved and will continue to function as normal.”
What to Do If You Have a goo.gl Link
If you have a goo.gl link, Google recommends visiting the link to check if it displays a warning message. If it does, you should transition to another URL shortener. If it doesn’t display the warning, then the link will continue to function as normal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google has updated their plan for the deprecated goo.gl URL shortening service. While they will no longer support links that do not receive traffic, they will continue to support links that are actively being used. This decision is a result of feedback from users, and it will help to preserve links that are still useful. If you have a goo.gl link, it’s a good idea to check if it will continue to work after August 25, 2025, and to transition to another URL shortener if necessary.