Google URL Shortener will be shut down on March 30, 2019
Back in December 2009, Google introduced its URL shortening service now known as goo.gl (or Google URL Shortener, for those talking about it at some fancy white collar event). First, it was used for Google Toolbar and Feedburner, but it became goo.gl and opened up to the public in September 2010. Sadly, this service will go down in one year from now, but it will stop accepting new users on April 13, 2018.
Since I am one of those using goo.gl on a regular basis (at least three times a week), I was surprised to discover the following message on the service's homepage earlier today: "Starting March 30, 2018, we will be turning down support for goo.gl URL shortener. From April 13, 2018 only existing users will be able to create short links on the goo.gl console. You will be able to view your analytics data and download your short link information in csv format for up to one year, until March 30, 2019, when we will discontinue goo.gl. Previously created links will continue to redirect to their intended destination."
The message mentioned above also links to a post that was published yesterday on the Google Developers Blog. According to this post, Google is turning down support for goo.gl and will be replacing it with Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL). To make a longer story short, these are the goo.gl alternatives recommended by Michael Hermanto, Software Engineer at Firebase: Firebase Dynamic Links (seems less straightforward at first sight), Bitly, and Ow.ly.
Anyway, those who would like to try this doomed URL shortener in the months left until it goes to the far beyond should take a look at the brief video tutorial below. Those like me who have been using it for years, on the other hand, might want to share their thoughts on the upcoming dismissal of the service and — if it's not a secret, obviously — tell us about their favorite goo.gl alternative.