A note to Cult of Mac readers: We’re changing the way external links open on the site. Instead of opening in the same tab, external links will now open in a new tab.
In the last few years, opening external links in new tabs has become a widespread practice in digital publishing. Many of the web’s most influential sites, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Reddit and Quora, open external links in a new tab.
We’re making the change to keep up.
Why Cult of Mac external links open in new tabs
As a publisher, there are clear benefits to opening external links in new tabs:
- It ensures Cult of Mac readers can easily return to the site.
- It increases time spent on the Cult of Mac site.
- New tabs clearly differentiate between Cult of Mac and external sites.
The change is reader-centered
Personally, I think the biggest benefit goes to our readers. When I’m reading on the web, I often open external links in new background tabs. This allows me to concentrate on whatever I’m reading at the time.
I can quickly glance at the new tab or, more often, save it for later to read in depth.
Sometimes, yeah, I end up with a ton of open tabs. But opening external links in new tabs often makes my reading and research a lot easier. All the open tabs serve as a convenient way to keep track of whatever I’m working on. (And I can close them all at once if I want to.)
I recognize that everyone has their own preferred reading habits, and this change may not be popular with everyone. But our intent is to make it a win-win for both the site and our readers. I think it achieves that.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
