FediTips has moved!Jul 12, 2023

In case you missed it, all links on Mastodon count as 23 characters towards your limit, no matter how many characters the link really is.

So, you don't need to use link shorteners on Mastodon as they won't actually affect the link's length.

Mastodon does this because it's better for everyone's privacy to avoid link shortener services, it means people can see what they're clicking on, and the link won't stop working if the shortener service shuts down.

More info at:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/you-dont-need-link-shorteners-on-mastodon/

You don’t need link shorteners on Mastodon | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse

An unofficial guide to using Mastodon and the Fediverse

Show threadJohn HardenJul 12, 2023
@feditips what I really want to know, why is Mastodon so inconsistent about providing preview images for linked content? Sometimes I get them, sometimes not. It seems random.
Show threadFediTips has moved!Jul 12, 2023

@giantspecks

I think this depends on the server, and when you look at the link. It can take some time for a preview to appear as your server has to prepare it, and if a server is very busy this process can take longer.

Are you seeing some previews never appearing, even days later?

Show threadSpaceLifeFormJul 13, 2023

@feditips @giantspecks

Yep. Preview can fail.

Just one of many reasons I obfuscate links.

Show threadJohn HardenJul 13, 2023
@SpaceLifeForm @feditips I know the meaning of the word but can you explain it in this context?
Show threadSpaceLifeFormJul 13, 2023

@giantspecks @feditips

If you make the link un-clickable, no preview will occur.

Show threadJohn Harden
@SpaceLifeForm @feditips ...and sorry, why on Earth would I want that? I want the opposite, a clickable link with a preview!
Jul 13, 2023 at 5:07pmWeb
Show threadSpaceLifeFormJul 13, 2023

@giantspecks @feditips

Apparently you have not seen a preview show up in a different language than the original poster read.