Sorry, I don’t know how to insert a link

[RussiasGreatestLoveMachine]

How is this even possible in this day and age?

I’ve just seen someone say it in yet another thread - they post about something, someone asks for a link, and they come back with this response.

God knows I am no tech whizz, but how can an adult in 2022 not know how to copy a link and paste it into their post…?

Do they think it is something way more complicated than copy and paste, and if so, why?

It does!

You only need the and if you want to embed the link within text.

So www.google.co.uk will just give the link to the site, but if you put and around it and type a space plus the word Google before the closing brackets, you get Google

But you never used to have that option. It was only a few years ago that linking became automatic.

Some links are insanely long too (random Amazon product)...

www.amazon.co.uk/Felix-Good-Looks-Pouches-Jelly/dp/B06W57X1J9/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?rdc=1&rd=1&brr=1&s=pet-supplies&pd_rd_wg=v160Z&pd_rd_w=Ybzox&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1642205347&pd_rd_r=ef45f7ea-0afe-4019-accb-348735661048&sr=1-7

Most pages have this sign on them ( the sign I've highlighted in red) just click that and decide what to do eg copy link and just paste it on a mn page, send it to an email or WhatsApp or whatever.

I'm one of the people who didn't know how to do it. I'm perfectly capable of doing links on my laptop, but always use my phone for posting on Mumsnet. I tried a few times when I first joined Mumsnet and couldn't get it to work, so stopped trying. That may have been because the phone I had at the time was pretty old.

It's not something I normally need to do as when I send links to friends I just go into the page and then send it via WhatsApp, Messenger, email or whatever.

So thank you @Lougle I now know how to do it. I don't understand what you said about putting ´and' around the link though, so that you get a short one-word link. Do you need square brackets and to write ´and´ before and after the link?

You've never needed to do the square brackets, it was always only ever an option if you wanted to show words rather than the link iirc

I also find it hard to believe that people can't do a long press on their phones and click copy and paste. I have an android phone, it's probably even easier on an iPhone or via the app

Of course people can do a long press. I suspect the issue is that many of us didn't know that doing that would bring up a 'copy' option. I certainly didn't.

Now that I know, I shall use it!

@RussiasGreatestLoveMachine

How is this even possible in this day and age?

I’ve just seen someone say it in yet another thread - they post about something, someone asks for a link, and they come back with this response.

God knows I am no tech whizz, but how can an adult in 2022 not know how to copy a link and paste it into their post…?

Do they think it is something way more complicated than copy and paste, and if so, why?

I usually can but tried to c and p a link yesterday on my phone but couldn't despite trying 3 times.

@Lougle

You only need the and if you want to embed the link within text.

So www.google.co.uk will just give the link to the site, but if you put and around it and type a space plus the word Google before the closing brackets, you get Google

Well that’s handy to know!

Thanks @Lougle

Hope it works now!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nailed_It!

@Fifthtimelucky

I'm one of the people who didn't know how to do it. I'm perfectly capable of doing links on my laptop, but always use my phone for posting on Mumsnet. I tried a few times when I first joined Mumsnet and couldn't get it to work, so stopped trying. That may have been because the phone I had at the time was pretty old.

It's not something I normally need to do as when I send links to friends I just go into the page and then send it via WhatsApp, Messenger, email or whatever.

So thank you @Lougle I now know how to do it. I don't understand what you said about putting ´and' around the link though, so that you get a short one-word link. Do you need square brackets and to write ´and´ before and after the link?

I wasn't saying to put 'and' around the link. I was saying that you have to have 2 square open brackets, the web address, a space, then the text you want to display instead of the link text, then 2 closed brackets.

I've attached a screenshot of how I would link to the BBC because once you post it shows the link, so you can't type it as an explanation.

The BBC
This article

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair

You've never needed to do the square brackets, it was always only ever an option if you wanted to show words rather than the link iirc

I also find it hard to believe that people can't do a long press on their phones and click copy and paste. I have an android phone, it's probably even easier on an iPhone or via the app

Back in the day, it was the only way to do links. Then a few years ago they changed it so that links automatically convert.

This annoys me too. And like when their 'AIBU' thread is (for example) 'what hotels are in the Broad Street Area in Birmingham?' FGS google it!

It annoys me so much I changed my username

I too have been doing double brackets [[ for years!

The instructions for the [[ method are clearly shown beneath the message box. It's just a case of following step by step.

Or cut and paste if you prefer.

Or, rather, copy and paste.

Old gimmer here, and yes it did used to be the case that you could only add a direct link if you 'd it. Otherwise you'd just add a load of text that wasn't a link, so everyone would have to c&p it to open the page. It was a pain in the arse! Not sure when it changed on here, but it's SO much easier now.

lmgtfy.app/?q=let+me+google+that+for+you

If someone asks a googlable question

Better and more passive aggressive example

lmgtfy.app/?q=hotels+in+Birmingham+

if you put and around it and type a space plus the word Google before the closing brackets, you get Google.

I tried that with a few things ... YES it worked! Thank you.

Cats protection league

cats

Covid booster anyone?

jabby jabbington

Any Game of Thrones fans???

G.O.T.

Ooooh, I have a new toy! Thanks @Lougle

If your phone is like mine then it can be impossible to move from tab to tab. So I too would have to say I don't know how to do it without having to find the thread again.

And having typed that I googled it and found a 'thing' I didn't know existed!

@PuppyMonkey

Mind blown. I’ve still been dutifully putting the [[ round every link.

Me too 😄

Just because a person can't do one thing that seems easy to you doesn't make them stupid. Or are you one of those amazing people who can do everything?

@amicissimma

The instructions for the [[ method are clearly shown beneath the message box. It's just a case of following step by step.

Or cut and paste if you prefer.

The instructions aren't included in the mobile site. I access Mumsnet via Google Chrome and all we have is the 4 buttons and preview/post. So anyone who doesn't know how won't learn on the mobile site.