Unsplash photos

1. 89

   theraggededgeposted 4 months ago

   I am constantly getting messages that copyright-free Unsplash images on my articles are 'broken links'.
   
   When I check them, they are all fine. The links are working correctly which suggests the problem is at HubPages' end.
   
   I've done the 'check for violations' thing several times but nothing changes. I am not prepared to swap out all the images for imaginary violations.

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      SerenityHaloposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      I do think this is important to bring up as editors often select Unsplash pictures. I’ve had the most problems with this site. I have had many REAL broken links from it.
      
      Whenever I find a bad link, I delete the picture promptly. I’ve been getting the slew of broken photo links too, and I’ll go through all of them and occasionally there will be a real bad one or a few of them. It’s a pain when the list is 70+.
      
      I think it would be helpful if editors used different photo sites in the future. I’ve been slowly but surely updating pictures through articles. Admittedly, some of my choices in the past were haphazard when it came to pictures.

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2. 97

   PaulGoodman67posted 4 months ago

   I believe that someone else posted about this recently. It seems to maybe be an Unsplash issue because it's not happening with, say, Pixabay.
   
   I'm just summarizing the consensus from the other discussion, as I  interpreted it. I generally use Unsplash at Medium but not at HP.
   
   You may want to find the previous discussion.

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3. 95

   Glenn Stokposted 4 months ago

   This has been happening for a few weeks already. It’s not a problem with HubPages. It seems Unsplash is erroneously returning “403” status codes randomly, but immediately returns back to a “200” success code. That triggers HubPages to put those images in the “broken link list.”  Clicking “retest” resolves the issue, but HubPages' algorithm does not retest automatically.
   
   HubPages is aware of the problem, as noted in the previous forum thread. But as I said, the problem is with Unsplash. I caught that with my author website too, since I monitor for broken links.

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4. 89

   theraggededgeposted 4 months ago

   Okay thanks. It's confusing because re-test isn't working for me. And the link indicated as broken goes straight to the live photo on Unsplash.
   
   I remember the previous discussion.
   
   I'll  try the re-test again.

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   1. 95

      Glenn Stokposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Bev, perhaps you retested too soon. I’m not sure how long the 403 status lasts each time it happens.

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         theraggededgeposted 4 months agoin reply to this

         So when you say retest, Glen, you mean 'check for violations'? Or am I missing something?

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            Kenna McHughposted 4 months agoin reply to this

            Retest is in the Broken Links field.

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               theraggededgeposted 4 months agoin reply to this

               Which is where? I can find no retest - either on my account page, or on the individual hub, or in the edit capsule. Could you send a screenshot?

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                  Kenna McHughposted 4 months agoin reply to this

                  It looks like Glen explained it.

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         2. 95

            Glenn Stokposted 4 months agoin reply to this

            No, not check for violations. When you click ”broken links” next to the “violations” tab, it will show you the links (if any) in articles that are bad. There is a “retest” button next to each one. But you only see that if you have any links that failed the recent test.

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            1. 89

               theraggededgeposted 4 months agoin reply to this

               Ah. Thank you. There are none

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5. 98

   Rupert Taylorposted 4 months ago

   I had more than 20 such Unsplash notices a few days ago and I just clicked on "Retest." There have been similar false broken link alerts for Amazon, the British Library, and other destinations. So, I don't think it can be blamed entirely on Unsplash.

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6. 98

   alexadryposted 4 months ago

   If I copy and paste the broken URL, it redirects to a new URL with some added keywords instead of some random numbers. It looks like Unsplash has decided to add descriptive keywords to their URL.
   
   If I replace the broken link with this new link with the keywords, it fixes the issue, although it takes some time for the Hubpages system to update and remove the broken link warning.
   
   In one case, I had a broken link warning that was reluctant to go away, only to discover the article had more than one Unsplash article.
   
   I am trying to work on them as time permits as changing the link also updates the article, allowing for a new timestamp of 2024, which Google may like and perhaps perceive as an update.

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7. 88

   revmjmposted 4 months ago

   I get dozens of those violations every day. I do not remove the photo; I just delete the Unsplash links. It is nothing you have done. I think it is a connection between Unsplash and HubPages. It is happening with many other writers.

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   1. 92

      MsDoraposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Rev, I also delete the link. In addition I will no longer link Unsplash photos, since HP considers the link optional.

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