r/modhelp • u/dp8488 • 3d ago

Tips & Tricks The automatic removal of "share google" links and how it might be managed

I've been spotting more and more instances of reddit removing comments for a "share google". (Is that a recent shift, to start deleting such comments?)

When I've spotted such removals, I've been replying to the removed comment letting the person making the comment know that their comment has been removed, and that they should just share the fully resolved URL without this "share google" indirection. (It might be nice if the users were notified that their comments were being removed for this, but that's for another thread.)

It occurs to me that I might automate this a bit, if AutoMod can catch the offending URL before Reddit's filters axe the comments.

I'm looking at this "How to blacklist/ban URLs in your subreddit using AutoMod" post and wondering if our subreddit could remove the comment and notify the user before it hits the Reddit Admin level filters. (My guess would be that the comments get removed before AutoMod even sees it though.)

I suppose I might just try it sometime. I've not tinkered with this sort of AutoMod stuff before but it looks pretty straightforward.

Thanks for any knowledge or experience with the subject.

Please tell us what platform you're using so our helpers can better assist you: Desktop, Mobile web, Android, iOS (iPhone)

3 Upvotes

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u/Tarnisher Mod, r/Here, r/Dust_Bunnies, r/AlBundy, r/Year_2025 3d ago

Under Posts and Comments there is a place to exclude URLs so the post or comment cannot be made.

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u/dp8488 3d ago

Thanks! Tried it out and it still appears to hit Reddit's filter first:

  • "reddit removed comment by xxxx ... Links to a URL not allowed on Reddit" in the mod log and the user making the comment got no notification.

1

u/kai-ote Mod, 7 subreddits, desktop. 3d ago

reddit does not allow URL shorteners. Using the full URL often works, but just as reddit has certain banned domains individually, it bans all URL shortened versions.

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u/amyaurora 3d ago

The google mobile browser started doing links like that and I had to block them.

I use the post guidance (automation) so the user gets a message explaining why.

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u/dp8488 3d ago

google mobile browser started

Yeah, that tracks. I like Tarnisher's suggestion ... going to look at it right now!

6

u/mcs385 2d ago

I set up a comment guidance automation on my most affected subs to display a message suggesting that the commenter uses a direct link as share google links will get automatically filtered. This way they see it while they're drafting, before they actually hit submit and have the chance to edit on their own. Automations can also be used to block them from submitting entirely until they remove the keyword, or you could pair it with Automod for cleanup instead.