Make links in Private Messages clickable.

[marahmarie]

Title:
Make links in Private Messages clickable.

Area:
Private messaging system

Summary:
Upon sending a private message to a Dreamwidth user the other night I looked upon the link I included in said message and realized it was unclickable. I thought to myself, what if mobility or other issues kept me from cutting and pasting the link into the browser; what if I were a user who simply needs to be able to click on that link with no other action required? So I'm proposing making all links clickable in private messages.

Description:
Upon reviewing a private message I sent to a Dreamwidth user the other night and realizing the link I included in it was unclickable, I began wondering why links in private messages are unclickable and how much trouble it might be to make them clickable in the future. Currently any links you include in Private Messages are shown in plain text with no way to click through on them to the linked content. I figure this is an accessibility issue for anyone with health issues that prevents them from using the mouse or keyboard fully or who simply experiences pain and over-exertion of already strained joints and tendons upon not being able to click on any links presented to them. So I'm proposing making all links clickable in private messages.


Making links clickable in PMs benefits all users by adding ease of use, speed and simplicity to the PM system; the only downside is that a straight clickthrough could lead a user to say, a malware-infested website. Spammers who sign up for Dreamwidth accounts and then use the PM system simply to spam, and existing users who turn against each other in nefarious ways could use the straight clickthrough function to make it easier for a user to visit a website full of spam and/or malware. But the capability for that sort of abuse is there now; the only difference is it takes a user two more steps (cut, paste, then press enter on your browser's address bar) to get to the website in question. Forcing a user to look at the link by disabling it and requiring extra steps to make it work might be a good idea from a security stand point but it comes at the cost of accessibility and ease of use for all Dreamwidth users.

Poll #12196 Make links in Private Messages clickable.

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 62

View Respondents

This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
33 (53.2%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
14 (22.6%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
7 (11.3%)

(I have no opinion)
7 (11.3%)

(Other: please comment)
1 (1.6%)