Google punishing image hotlink protections

[ianevans]

From a discussion over at the Pixabay blog it looks like Google is starting to further punish sites that use any scripts to redirect the Google Images "view image" button to the actual page containing the photo. Some sites with galleries that already saw a sharp decline in traffic when Google "improved" their image search to show our photos without context are now seeing a further decline.

Egads. I'm thinking about turning all my photo galleries into YouTube slideshows. At least there'll be some monetization.

[fathom]

Things change.

Trading links use to be all you needed to do to be #1 in Google Search. Now you have to waste tons of revenue in the hope of getting to be #1 and you can't simply paid for the link.

Welcome to the real world... Google is monetizing everything as well.

[EditorialGuy]

IMHO, Google isn't out to "punish image hotlink protections," Google simply wants its search results to behave in a predictable way for users.

[Lame_Wolf]

MHO, Google isn't out to "punish image hotlink protections," Google simply wants its search results to behave in a predictable way for users.

Then. what do you call it when I have played an honest game with Google (and all other search engines)

How more predictable can it be when there are NO redirects, NO funny business my end, NO use of plug-ins etc etc etc.

Before my listings were removed from Google Images, if you saw (for example,) a 1124 x 640 image, when you clicked on it, you would get the same 1124 x 640 image.

How is that a mismatch?

Please explain, as I would like to know how more predictable it can be.

[Lame_Wolf]

.

Things change.

Really. I haven't noticed in the 11+ years. [Rolls eyes]

.

Trading links use to be all you needed to do to be #1 in Google Search. Now you have to waste tons of revenue in the hope of getting to be #1 and you can't simply paid for the link..

I don't trade links.

Also, you picked on the least important example.

.

Welcome to the real world... Google is monetizing everything as well..

Yep, that's really helpful. Can you actually help, or are you just picking on things without reason?

[fathom]

Sure, remove the hotlink protection... Problem solved.

[Lame_Wolf]

Sure, remove the hotlink protection... Problem solved.

Oh yeah, that's really helpful.

What was it you said earlier... "Not trying to be argumentative" ... I beg to differ.

Or, are you willing to pay my excess bandwidth charges every month? Didn't think so.

As you are so damn clever, why are my other sites not affected, and they use hotlink protection, using the same method.

I've never stopped Google viewing/using my images, I just want other sites to stop hotlinking. Why should that be a problem with Google etc?

[aristotle]

Google wants to be able to hotlink your images so that it can show them to searchers without having to send the searchers to your site.

If you don't allow Google to do this, then you're not cooperating.

To try to force you to cooperate, Google stops showing your images at all.

Edit:
Added Note: The quality of Google's image results is also harmed since some relevant images are no longer shown.

[fathom]

I'm sure the few that abuse (hotlink) can be dealt with independently. You can deny access to any IP, which stops this activity.

Bandwidth budgets of what? Streaming Video eats substantial more bandwidth that images so I really don't see what the issue is. If you aren't/can't monetize for bandwidth use... Best to reduce image file size or remove them, disallow access.

The cost of doing business is the cost of doing business... Charge more for whatever.

[Lame_Wolf]

Google wants to be able to hotlink your images so that it can show them to searchers without having to send the searchers to your site.

I've never stopped Google. That is why I am puzzled by it.

I had nothing in place to stop someone when they clicked on "View Image" - it took them to the said image.

If you don't allow Google to do this, then you're not cooperating.

I do allow Google. I've never stopped them. I've already listed the .htaccess that refers to hotlinking.

To try to force you to cooperate, Google stops showing your images at all.

See above.

[aristotle]

Lame_Wolf --
My last post (which you quoted) relates to the problem that the OP described. Evidently your particular problem falls into a different category.

[Lame_Wolf]

Lame_Wolf --
My last post (which you quoted) relates to the problem that the OP described. Evidently your particular problem falls into a different category.

Thank you for clearing that up. It's rather hard to work out at times who one is replying to when there isn't a quote.

[RedBar]

I'm sure the few that abuse (hotlink) can be dealt with independently.

ROFL ... FEW?

Sure it's not as bad as it was however what do you call a few? 100/1,000/10,000 a day ...At my worst it was 100,000 per day, it was horrific getting it under control.

[fathom]

Even if ten billion abuse, it's a part of doing business.

Hire an attorney and settle 90% of claims out of court that's...

100,000 X $1500 = or more than a billion dollars a day.

Yes I realize it is just loose change to most. But Gettys Images it thriving on this model.

[RedBar]

As Harry Enfield would say, you've got loadsa money!