Most People will use the standard Markdown editor provided on steemit.com. Currently hyperlinks open in the same tab you are currently in. I think the reasons to include links are obvious; establishing credibility, providing sources, linking to related information. It's great.
But from a marketing perspective, every time someone clicks a link they are taken off site, unless the link is to an existing page on Steemit. This is not good. Steemit should want to remain in a open tab as much as possible. This is for many reasons. First, convenience. That user is more likely to jump back on Steemit to create and consume content if it is convenient. It is also a matter of staying "top of mind". A small reminder that Steemit is there and should be visited for the sake of profit and leisure.
Basically, the more people stay on Steemit, the better the platform will become, as it has more creators and consumers.
There is an argument to be made for keeping the links as is. All links open in the existing tab. This gives the user full control. However, creating the perfect user experience doesn't always mean the user is in full control. Sometimes they are being guided, which is in the best interest of their experience and the platform they are using.
The solution is rather simple. We just add
target="_blank" attribute to the links (anchor tags)
I envision the best way would be to have this built into the markdown editor.
My final example is a reference to Facebook. All outside links open in a new tab. All onsite facebook links open in the same tab. Whether you like Facebook or not is irrelevant. They are a successful business and have a Market Cap of $363.73 Billion. Steemit's Market Cap is currently $46.5 million. If we want to make Steemit better, thus increasing the price and market cap, we should imitate what is working for the big players in the market. Duplicating this feature will add value to the platform and make Steemit a better social network.
Sources:
pexels.com