Why is there a nofollow attribute on the platform and can it be changed

Promotion and cascades 2 min read Updated 29.09.2026

The attribute is set by the service, not the publisher: it cannot be changed. 13 out of 26 platforms pass weight — we analyze why the others are needed and what we do not claim.

The question comes almost every week: "you publish on Medium, and there is nofollow — is there any point in this?" or "can links be changed to dofollow?" We answer directly: it cannot be changed, and here’s why this does not make the publication meaningless.

The attribute is set by the platform, not us

The prohibiting attribute (nofollow, ugc, sponsored) is set by the service itself — by its template or script in the browser. The publishing user has no way to change this: neither through the editor nor through the API. A contractor who promises to "make dofollow on Medium" promises something they do not control.

How many platforms pass weight

According to a sample of 26 platforms in the pool — **13 pass weight and 13 do not**. We do not hide this slice and do not claim "all links are dofollow": that would be false. The flag for weight transfer is part of the platform's priority, which is why dofollow platforms are used more often, but the pool is not made up of them alone.

You need to check the rendered DOM

The attribute in the source code and the attribute in the browser are different things. Telegra.ph removes nofollow with a script after loading, while notepin, on the contrary, adds it. Therefore, checking "I looked at the page source" gives an incorrect answer. How we do this — in the analysis of weight transfer.

Why is a link that does not pass weight needed

Discovery. The robot comes to the page via the link regardless of the attribute.
Profile diversity. A profile made up of only dofollow looks unnatural — live sites have a mixed ratio.
Brand mention. The name and domain in the text work even without clickable weight transfer.
Second level. A publication with a nofollow link to you can itself receive dofollow links and be indexed.

What we do NOT claim

That a nofollow link is equal to a dofollow link. It is weaker, and this is taken into account directly when selecting platforms. We claim something else: it is not useless, and buying "only dofollow" from someone who promises this on public services is buying a promise, not a result.

How to check it yourself

Open the publication, find your link, call the element inspector, and look at the rel attribute in the rendered tree. This will take a minute and does not require paid services — a complete checklist in the article how to check our work.

FAQ

Can nofollow be changed to dofollow?

No. The attribute is set by the platform itself with its template or script; the publishing user has no way to change it either through the editor or through the API.

How many platforms pass weight?

According to a sample of 26 platforms in the pool — 13 pass and 13 do not. The weight transfer flag is part of the platform's priority, which is why dofollow platforms are used more often.

Is there any point in a nofollow link?

It is weaker than dofollow, but not useless: the robot comes through it, the profile remains natural, the brand is mentioned, and the publication itself can receive weight from the second level.

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