URLs have been an integral part of the internet landscape for decades, allowing us to link and share information across the web. However, with the rise of modern technologies and changing user behavior, it's becoming increasingly clear that URLs are no longer a reliable way to identify online content.
- One major issue is the proliferation of short URLs, often generated by tools like Bitly or TinyURL. These shorter URLs can be easily broken down into fragments (e.g., a shortened version of the original URL), making them difficult to track back to their original source.
- Another challenge is the increasing use of generic top-level domains (TLDs) and subdomains. While TLDs like .com and .org were once reserved for authoritative websites, they are now being used by anyone with a domain name. This has led to confusion and inconsistencies in online identification.
So, what can you do to protect your online identity? One approach is to create alternative identifiers that are more durable and less susceptible to URL changes. For example, consider using a username or email address as a unique identifier.
An alternative solution is to use a custom domain name for your website or blog. This will allow you to maintain control over the content and branding of your online presence, even if URLs become unreliable.