Many people believe that AOL, or America Online, simply doesn’t allow clickable links in their emails. It’s true that older versions of AOL prevent these links, called hyperlinks, from being used in emails unless they’re used in a specific way, with specific code. That’s why you often see a completely separate link in emails, which is designed for AOL users.
Woman doing handstand with a computer
The reason for this is that AOL email messages, especially in older versions of the program, are mostly text. However, even if the posts are not fully HTML, anchor tags are required to use clickable links. Earlier versions of AOL basically searched for or filtered HTML tags and formatted them as they would appear in a browser.
Many users simply copy or cut and paste the information into their browser and then search for the destination indicated by the link. However, this can be problematic for new computer users or new AOL customers used to clickable links. Those who don’t realize it’s necessary, who haven’t learned how to cut and paste yet, or who don’t know where to paste the link to proceed may get frustrated. Long links can also break, skipping necessary characters.
The new versions of AOL email interpret HTML better, allowing users more versatility. However, this does not mean that all clients will update and use the latest versions. Many may still be using version 5.0 or earlier, which means the links still won’t work properly, even if you’re an AOL member who’s upgraded. So it’s probably best to include a separate AOL friendly link if you want to make clickable links available to those who receive your emails.
In conclusion, it is not necessarily the case that AOL does not “allow” clickable links. The latest versions, in fact, yes. It’s more a matter of older versions of the email program that may still be in use, having formatting issues. These versions do not readily accept clickable links in the typical format, so unless or until all users update, the links will not work correctly for all users. If you’re using an outdated version of AOL’s email program and want to be able to use hyperlinks, the easiest option is to upgrade.
