When You Should NOT Use a Creepy Link
There is a time and place for everything. Here are the places where tracking links do not belong.
As much as we love our tool, we are the first to admit: You shouldn't use it for everything.
A creepy link changes the power dynamic of a conversation. It introduces asymmetry (I know something you don't). In professional settings, this is "business intelligence." In personal settings, it's just weird.
1. Personal Relationships
Never send a tracking link to a spouse, date, or close friend to "check if they are ignoring you."
Trust is the currency of personal relationships. Verification tools devalue that currency. If you have to track them to get a reply, the link isn't the problem—the relationship is.
2. Sensitive or Vulnerable Situations
Do not use tracking links when communicating about sensitive topics like health, legal disputes (unless you are the lawyer), or mental health support.
People clicking these links are often vulnerable. They deserve total privacy, not just anonymity.
3. Mass Public Forums (Reddit/Discord)
While not "unethical" per se, posting short URLs in places like Reddit often leads to them being banned or downvoted.
Communities value transparency. They want to see the destination domain. If you mask a helpful resource behind a short URL, it looks suspicious, like spam.
Summary
Use Creepy Links when the relationship is transactional or professional (Business, Hiring, Selling, Freelancing). Avoid them when the relationship is purely social or emotional.