The following is a simple "breakdown" of the URL in post #7125:
This is the original link that was posted:
https://www.startpage.com/av/proxy-image?piurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgflip.com%2F5mac5d.jpg&sp=1733661146Tff2da7e4f68e7163e47b4dcb653a293871c55d83d6913c0204ea4a913d64891a
If you replace the translated hexadecimal characters with the original characters:
https://www.startpage.com/av/proxy-image?piurl=https://i.imgflip.com/mac5d.jpg&sp=1733661146Tff2da7e4f68e7163e47b4dcb653a293871c55d83d6913c0204ea4a913d64891a
This is a 'redirect' type of URL - it "redirects" you to another site where the image resides.
If you extract the original URL from all of that:
https://i.imgflip.com/5mac5d.jpg
The big long alphanumerical string at the end of the original URL is the reason it "broke" - and,
@Godsgirl1983 - why you yourself can no longer see it.
This string is associated with - and used by - startpage and not imgflip.
Because eeeeeeeeeeverybody these days want to track-and-trace every click and tap - various methods are used strictly for that purpose - which embed in the URL it-only-works-for-you-this-one-time information that ties it to the particular-and-specific series of clicks/taps that the person who accessed it made - as much as possible -
before and
after the click that resulted in viewing the image (in this case). They want to know where you came from to arrive there (which is generally always available) and where you go next (if it is available).
The big long string is
unique to a specific time-and-place click that Godsgirl made. And, that is why it worked for her at the time but not later. Essentially, startpage does not want it to work unless you click a link on
their site to access it. Thus, not allowing you to bypass their site by giving anyone else the ability to go directly to the image on the other site. And, they want to track-and-trace your clicks - otherwise, they simply will not allow it.
BTW - if startpage says they do not track or trace - they
are lying! The proof is right here! Otherwise, they would simply redirect you directly to the image without the big long string being included in the URL.
I have seen this kind of thing on sites where you might wish to buy something - where they do not allow you to see the 'detail' information about the product unless they can track-and-trace your clicks/taps.
An example of this is - if I send you a link to the product information - and, include the "extra" piece of information they embed in the URL - then, you will be able to see it - and,
they will know that I sent you the link (at the moment you click/tap it) - inasmuch as whatever they know about me through the circumstances at the time I originally clicked on the link to give me access to the product information.
However, if I remove that embedded "extra" and just send you the "normal" URL to the product information - you will not be able to see it.
They do this on purpose - not allowing you to access the information unless you let them track-and-trace your clicks/taps.
In the modern day, the corporate realm has adopted the attitude:
"We will not even talk to you unless you first tell us everything there is to know about you."
This and similar is unfortunately the mindset today.
And, because of it, many things on the internet are "broken" the moment you try to bypass the all-important track-and-trace process - because, they don't want to allow the possibility that they might miss out on any amount of data that can possibly be collected.
Of course, this varies from entity to entity and site to site - it is not the same level of stupid everywhere - it depends on just how much they want to keep you from accessing their data unless you allow them to track-and-trace you.