Which Social Platforms Penalize Links in Posts?
There has been a lot of discussion regarding link penalties on social platforms, with many platforms implementing restrictions on including links in posts to keep users engaged within the app. Here is an overview of where some of the major social platforms stand on links and link penalties:
- Facebook has reduced the prevalence of link posts over time, leading to a decrease in referral traffic.
- Instagram does not allow links in captions but enables sharing links in Stories to followers.
- Threads, according to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri, does not penalize posts with external links.
- X limits the reach of posts with external links, preferring users to share content directly on the platform.
- TikTok and Snapchat also have limited support for links in posts.
- LinkedIn has made changes that may limit the reach of link posts, especially without paid promotion.
- Bluesky is an exception, promoting external links as a key aspect of its platform.