For better or worse, reading the linked article does not expose you to the fake images.

Interesting hack:

The hack exploits the random combination of numbers and letters used in such short codes, making it impossible to know where it’s leading until you get there. When customizing such links, the platform will stop you duplicating an existing shortcode, But Binder explains that “it appears that there was a bug in Bitly that allowed users to create a custom back-half that was previously in use if the original link or Bitly account that created the link was deleted or deactivated.”