Google has announced that it will be discontinuing its goo.gl URL shortening service in 2022. This means that all existing goo.gl links will stop working and return a “404 page not found” error by August 25, 2025.
Starting this year, when someone clicks on a goo.gl link, they may see a warning page stating that the link will no longer work in the near future before being redirected to the intended website. This warning page will be displayed gradually to users over the next year, eventually appearing for most, if not all, goo.gl links by the shutdown date.
Google is giving developers time to transition to other URL shorteners to avoid disruptions for users. The company acknowledges that the warning pages could potentially prevent users from reaching their desired destination, so it is urging developers to update their links as soon as possible.
The discontinuation of the goo.gl service adds to the list of features and services that Google has phased out over the years. This includes the Hangouts chat app, the Stadia cloud gaming service, and Google+, which was an attempt to rival Facebook.
It is important for users who have goo.gl links to be aware of this change and take necessary actions to update their shortened URLs. This will ensure a seamless browsing experience for anyone clicking on these links in the future. If you currently use goo.gl links, it is recommended to start transitioning to alternative URL shortening services to avoid any disruptions.
Overall, this move by Google reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to streamline its product offerings and focus on new initiatives. Stay tuned for more updates on Google’s evolving services and features as they continue to innovate in the tech industry.
