In 2017, WordPress will begin rolling out features that require websites to have HTTPS available, according to a recent announcement from the company. WordPress describes the change as the “next hurdle” users will encounter, comparable to the adoption of JavaScript.
The initial change WordPress plans to implement is to stop promoting hosting partners unless they provide an SSL certificate by default for all accounts. This change is expected to take place in early 2017.
The company will also evaluate which features would benefit most from SSL and will only make them available when SSL is present on a website. One of the features under consideration is API authentication.
This move is another example of a major web company pushing toward a safer and more encrypted internet. With this change, the number of WordPress websites using HTTPS is bound to increase.
Many companies are following Google’s lead from 2014, when it was decided that HTTPS is significant enough to be a ranking factor. Although the ranking boost is slight, if all other factors are equal, a site on HTTPS would outperform one that is not.
Despite the ranking factor being minor, it has not deterred many SEOs and concerned site owners from migrating to HTTPS. HTTPS has now evolved into a trust factor for users, indicating that the site they are visiting prioritizes protecting their privacy.
Whether as a ranking factor or a trust factor, the reasons to make the switch to HTTPS are accumulating. Conversely, the reasons not to switch are decreasing.
Previously, moving to HTTPS was an expensive and complex process, deterring some webmasters from considering it. WordPress highlights projects like Let’s Encrypt that have made obtaining an HTTPS certificate fast and free.
It appears we can expect further announcements from WordPress soon regarding HTTPS as the company intensifies its efforts in 2017.
