Panera Bread is almost-famous for their Free Wi-Fi (especially after they decided to actually announce it on their doors so the pubkic knew). Unfortunately, they are now famous for inviting “Big Brother” to help them by eating up your tiny url links.

It seems Panera is concerned that URL shorteners such as Bit.ly (and maybe soon even Tiny URL) could cause harm by allowing clicks to malicious websites you (and Panera) cannot verify. This, despite Bit.ly offering up warning messages on website they cannot verify to be safe.

Why do you care? Do you use Twitter? Almost everyone uses a URL shortener these days – especially on twitter because, well, you only have 140 characters!

Panera’s official Twitter handle responded that the coffee shops have “blocked b/c link is hidden & can’t determine content. Want to keep a friendly-family environment for all.” (Source: TechCrunch)

Ok, they have that right, after all it IS their network.
Time to switch to 3G and eat anywhere I want, or (given the current economy) maybe head back to Starbucks…or McDonalds. After all, I can get $1 burger and use the money I save on my new BOINGO subscription!

[FCC Disclosure: BOINGO is a paid link of mine for the Starving Student Fund - you get $9.95 all you can eat Wi-Fi in 100,000 locations, and I get some coin...a real win/win-win!\]