Description
target="_blank" is frequently used on external links. However, this can be disorienting for many groups of users who don't expect to be in a new window. Using target="_blank" requires extra considerations which can be tricky to enforce, so it may be best to avoid them altogether.
From @jscholes in Slack thread:
TL;DR: don't force links to open in a new tab/window. When you force it, users can not opt out in any browser I know of. However, when you give them the choice from the start, users can make their own decision as to: current window, new tab, or new entire window.
If links are forced to open in a new tab/window, you have to surface that fact upfront, with "(opens in new tab)" and icons everywhere. Personally, while I see the utility of this, it makes many websites cluttered and a nightmare to read, particularly when you have new-opener links in the middle of text paragraphs. And, can all be avoided by just not doing it in the first place.