diff --git a/mod/babel.php b/mod/babel.php
index cafd06556..3352366bd 100644
--- a/mod/babel.php
+++ b/mod/babel.php
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ function babel_content()
 					'content' => visible_lf($bbcode)
 				];
 
+				$plain = Text\BBCode::toPlaintext($bbcode, false);
+				$results[] = [
+					'title' => L10n::t('BBCode::toPlaintext'),
+					'content' => visible_lf($plain)
+				];
+
 				$html = Text\BBCode::convert($bbcode);
 				$results[] = [
 					'title' => L10n::t("BBCode::convert \x28raw HTML\x29"),
diff --git a/src/Content/Text/BBCode.php b/src/Content/Text/BBCode.php
index 375559346..6c441bac6 100644
--- a/src/Content/Text/BBCode.php
+++ b/src/Content/Text/BBCode.php
@@ -343,159 +343,20 @@ class BBCode extends BaseObject
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * @brief Convert a message into plaintext for connectors to other networks
+	 * @brief Converts a BBCode text into plaintext
 	 *
-	 * @param array $b The message array that is about to be posted
-	 * @param int $limit The maximum number of characters when posting to that network
-	 * @param bool $includedlinks Has an attached link to be included into the message?
-	 * @param int $htmlmode This triggers the behaviour of the bbcode conversion
-	 * @param string $target_network Name of the network where the post should go to.
+	 * @param bool $keep_urls Whether to keep URLs in the resulting plaintext
 	 *
-	 * @return string The converted message
+	 * @return string
 	 */
-	public static function toPlaintext($b, $limit = 0, $includedlinks = false, $htmlmode = 2, $target_network = "")
+	public static function toPlaintext($text, $keep_urls = true)
 	{
-		// Remove the hash tags
-		$URLSearchString = "^\[\]";
-		$body = preg_replace("/([#@])\[url\=([$URLSearchString]*)\](.*?)\[\/url\]/ism", '$1$3', $b["body"]);
-
-		// Add an URL element if the text contains a raw link
-		$body = preg_replace("/([^\]\='".'"'."]|^)(https?\:\/\/[a-zA-Z0-9\:\/\-\?\&\;\.\=\_\~\#\%\$\!\+\,]+)/ism", '$1[url]$2[/url]', $body);
-
-		// Remove the abstract
-		$body = self::stripAbstract($body);
-
-		// At first look at data that is attached via "type-..." stuff
-		// This will hopefully replaced with a dedicated bbcode later
-		//$post = self::getAttachedData($b["body"]);
-		$post = self::getAttachedData($body, $b);
-
-		if (($b["title"] != "") && ($post["text"] != "")) {
-			$post["text"] = trim($b["title"]."\n\n".$post["text"]);
-		} elseif ($b["title"] != "") {
-			$post["text"] = trim($b["title"]);
+		$naked_text = preg_replace('/\[(.+?)\]/','', $text);
+		if (!$keep_urls) {
+			$naked_text = preg_replace('#https?\://[^\s<]+[^\s\.\)]#i', '', $naked_text);
 		}
 
-		$abstract = "";
-
-		// Fetch the abstract from the given target network
-		if ($target_network != "") {
-			$default_abstract = self::getAbstract($b["body"]);
-			$abstract = self::getAbstract($b["body"], $target_network);
-
-			// If we post to a network with no limit we only fetch
-			// an abstract exactly for this network
-			if (($limit == 0) && ($abstract == $default_abstract)) {
-				$abstract = "";
-			}
-		} else {// Try to guess the correct target network
-			switch ($htmlmode) {
-				case 8:
-					$abstract = self::getAbstract($b["body"], NETWORK_TWITTER);
-					break;
-				case 7:
-					$abstract = self::getAbstract($b["body"], NETWORK_STATUSNET);
-					break;
-				case 6:
-					$abstract = self::getAbstract($b["body"], NETWORK_APPNET);
-					break;
-				default: // We don't know the exact target.
-					// We fetch an abstract since there is a posting limit.
-					if ($limit > 0) {
-						$abstract = self::getAbstract($b["body"]);
-					}
-			}
-		}
-
-		if ($abstract != "") {
-			$post["text"] = $abstract;
-
-			if ($post["type"] == "text") {
-				$post["type"] = "link";
-				$post["url"] = $b["plink"];
-			}
-		}
-
-		$html = self::convert($post["text"].$post["after"], false, $htmlmode);
-		$msg = HTML::toPlaintext($html, 0, true);
-		$msg = trim(html_entity_decode($msg, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8'));
-
-		$link = "";
-		if ($includedlinks) {
-			if ($post["type"] == "link") {
-				$link = $post["url"];
-			} elseif ($post["type"] == "text") {
-				$link = $post["url"];
-			} elseif ($post["type"] == "video") {
-				$link = $post["url"];
-			} elseif ($post["type"] == "photo") {
-				$link = $post["image"];
-			}
-
-			if (($msg == "") && isset($post["title"])) {
-				$msg = trim($post["title"]);
-			}
-
-			if (($msg == "") && isset($post["description"])) {
-				$msg = trim($post["description"]);
-			}
-
-			// If the link is already contained in the post, then it neeedn't to be added again
-			// But: if the link is beyond the limit, then it has to be added.
-			if (($link != "") && strstr($msg, $link)) {
-				$pos = strpos($msg, $link);
-
-				// Will the text be shortened in the link?
-				// Or is the link the last item in the post?
-				if (($limit > 0) && ($pos < $limit) && (($pos + 23 > $limit) || ($pos + strlen($link) == strlen($msg)))) {
-					$msg = trim(str_replace($link, "", $msg));
-				} elseif (($limit == 0) || ($pos < $limit)) {
-					// The limit has to be increased since it will be shortened - but not now
-					// Only do it with Twitter (htmlmode = 8)
-					if (($limit > 0) && (strlen($link) > 23) && ($htmlmode == 8)) {
-						$limit = $limit - 23 + strlen($link);
-					}
-
-					$link = "";
-
-					if ($post["type"] == "text") {
-						unset($post["url"]);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		if ($limit > 0) {
-			// Reduce multiple spaces
-			// When posted to a network with limited space, we try to gain space where possible
-			while (strpos($msg, "  ") !== false) {
-				$msg = str_replace("  ", " ", $msg);
-			}
-
-			// Twitter is using its own limiter, so we always assume that shortened links will have this length
-			if (iconv_strlen($link, "UTF-8") > 0) {
-				$limit = $limit - 23;
-			}
-
-			if (iconv_strlen($msg, "UTF-8") > $limit) {
-				if (($post["type"] == "text") && isset($post["url"])) {
-					$post["url"] = $b["plink"];
-				} elseif (!isset($post["url"])) {
-					$limit = $limit - 23;
-					$post["url"] = $b["plink"];
-				// Which purpose has this line? It is now uncommented, but left as a reminder
-				//} elseif (strpos($b["body"], "[share") !== false) {
-				//	$post["url"] = $b["plink"];
-				} elseif (PConfig::get($b["uid"], "system", "no_intelligent_shortening")) {
-					$post["url"] = $b["plink"];
-				}
-				$msg = Plaintext::shorten($msg, $limit);
-			}
-		}
-
-		$post["text"] = trim($msg);
-
-		return($post);
+		return $naked_text;
 	}
 
 	public static function scaleExternalImages($srctext, $include_link = true, $scale_replace = false)
@@ -1947,7 +1808,7 @@ class BBCode extends BaseObject
 	 * @param string $addon The addon for which the abstract is meant for
 	 * @return string The abstract
 	 */
-	private static function getAbstract($text, $addon = "")
+	public static function getAbstract($text, $addon = "")
 	{
 		$abstract = "";
 		$abstracts = [];
diff --git a/src/Model/Item.php b/src/Model/Item.php
index bdb85af44..499ec25c1 100644
--- a/src/Model/Item.php
+++ b/src/Model/Item.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 namespace Friendica\Model;
 
 use Friendica\BaseObject;
+use Friendica\Content\Text;
 use Friendica\Core\Addon;
 use Friendica\Core\Config;
 use Friendica\Core\L10n;
@@ -977,35 +978,35 @@ class Item extends BaseObject
 	 * if possible and not already present.
 	 * Expects "body" element to exist in $arr.
 	 */
-	private static function addLanguageInPostopts(&$arr)
+	private static function addLanguageInPostopts(&$item)
 	{
-		if (x($arr, 'postopts')) {
-			if (strstr($arr['postopts'], 'lang=')) {
+		if (!empty($item['postopts'])) {
+			if (strstr($item['postopts'], 'lang=')) {
 				// do not override
 				return;
 			}
-			$postopts = $arr['postopts'];
+			$postopts = $item['postopts'];
 		} else {
 			$postopts = "";
 		}
 
-		$naked_body = preg_replace('/\[(.+?)\]/','', $arr['body']);
-		$l = new Text_LanguageDetect();
-		$lng = $l->detect($naked_body, 3);
+		$naked_body = Text\BBCode::toPlaintext($item['body'], false);
 
-		if (sizeof($lng) > 0) {
-			if ($postopts != "") {
+		$languages = (new Text_LanguageDetect())->detect($naked_body, 3);
+
+		if (sizeof($languages) > 0) {
+			if ($postopts != '') {
 				$postopts .= '&'; // arbitrary separator, to be reviewed
 			}
 
 			$postopts .= 'lang=';
 			$sep = "";
 
-			foreach ($lng as $language => $score) {
+			foreach ($languages as $language => $score) {
 				$postopts .= $sep . $language . ";" . $score;
 				$sep = ':';
 			}
-			$arr['postopts'] = $postopts;
+			$item['postopts'] = $postopts;
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/Model/ItemContent.php b/src/Model/ItemContent.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21dbd34d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Model/ItemContent.php
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file src/Model/ItemContent.php
+ */
+
+namespace Friendica\Model;
+
+use Friendica\BaseObject;
+use Friendica\Content\Text;
+use Friendica\Core\PConfig;
+
+require_once 'boot.php';
+require_once 'include/items.php';
+require_once 'include/text.php';
+
+class ItemContent extends BaseObject
+{
+	/**
+	 * @brief Convert a message into plaintext for connectors to other networks
+	 *
+	 * @param array  $item           The message array that is about to be posted
+	 * @param int    $limit          The maximum number of characters when posting to that network
+	 * @param bool   $includedlinks  Has an attached link to be included into the message?
+	 * @param int    $htmlmode       This controls the behavior of the BBCode conversion
+	 * @param string $target_network Name of the network where the post should go to.
+	 *
+	 * @see \Friendica\Content\Text\BBCode::getAttachedData
+	 *
+	 * @return array Same array structure than \Friendica\Content\Text\BBCode::getAttachedData
+	 */
+	public static function getPlaintextPost($item, $limit = 0, $includedlinks = false, $htmlmode = 2, $target_network = '')
+	{
+		// Remove hashtags
+		$URLSearchString = '^\[\]';
+		$body = preg_replace("/([#@])\[url\=([$URLSearchString]*)\](.*?)\[\/url\]/ism", '$1$3', $item['body']);
+
+		// Add an URL element if the text contains a raw link
+		$body = preg_replace('/([^\]\=\'"]|^)(https?\:\/\/[a-zA-Z0-9\:\/\-\?\&\;\.\=\_\~\#\%\$\!\+\,]+)/ism',
+			'$1[url]$2[/url]', $body);
+
+		// Remove the abstract
+		$body = Text\BBCode::stripAbstract($body);
+
+		// At first look at data that is attached via "type-..." stuff
+		// This will hopefully replaced with a dedicated bbcode later
+		//$post = self::getAttachedData($b['body']);
+		$post = Text\BBCode::getAttachedData($body, $item);
+
+		if (($item['title'] != '') && ($post['text'] != '')) {
+			$post['text'] = trim($item['title'] . "\n\n" . $post['text']);
+		} elseif ($item['title'] != '') {
+			$post['text'] = trim($item['title']);
+		}
+
+		$abstract = '';
+
+		// Fetch the abstract from the given target network
+		if ($target_network != '') {
+			$default_abstract = Text\BBCode::getAbstract($item['body']);
+			$abstract = Text\BBCode::getAbstract($item['body'], $target_network);
+
+			// If we post to a network with no limit we only fetch
+			// an abstract exactly for this network
+			if (($limit == 0) && ($abstract == $default_abstract)) {
+				$abstract = '';
+			}
+		} else {// Try to guess the correct target network
+			switch ($htmlmode) {
+				case 8:
+					$abstract = Text\BBCode::getAbstract($item['body'], NETWORK_TWITTER);
+					break;
+				case 7:
+					$abstract = Text\BBCode::getAbstract($item['body'], NETWORK_STATUSNET);
+					break;
+				case 6:
+					$abstract = Text\BBCode::getAbstract($item['body'], NETWORK_APPNET);
+					break;
+				default: // We don't know the exact target.
+					// We fetch an abstract since there is a posting limit.
+					if ($limit > 0) {
+						$abstract = Text\BBCode::getAbstract($item['body']);
+					}
+			}
+		}
+
+		if ($abstract != '') {
+			$post['text'] = $abstract;
+
+			if ($post['type'] == 'text') {
+				$post['type'] = 'link';
+				$post['url'] = $item['plink'];
+			}
+		}
+
+		$html = Text\BBCode::convert($post['text'] . $post['after'], false, $htmlmode);
+		$msg = Text\HTML::toPlaintext($html, 0, true);
+		$msg = trim(html_entity_decode($msg, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8'));
+
+		$link = '';
+		if ($includedlinks) {
+			if ($post['type'] == 'link') {
+				$link = $post['url'];
+			} elseif ($post['type'] == 'text') {
+				$link = $post['url'];
+			} elseif ($post['type'] == 'video') {
+				$link = $post['url'];
+			} elseif ($post['type'] == 'photo') {
+				$link = $post['image'];
+			}
+
+			if (($msg == '') && isset($post['title'])) {
+				$msg = trim($post['title']);
+			}
+
+			if (($msg == '') && isset($post['description'])) {
+				$msg = trim($post['description']);
+			}
+
+			// If the link is already contained in the post, then it neeedn't to be added again
+			// But: if the link is beyond the limit, then it has to be added.
+			if (($link != '') && strstr($msg, $link)) {
+				$pos = strpos($msg, $link);
+
+				// Will the text be shortened in the link?
+				// Or is the link the last item in the post?
+				if (($limit > 0) && ($pos < $limit) && (($pos + 23 > $limit) || ($pos + strlen($link) == strlen($msg)))) {
+					$msg = trim(str_replace($link, '', $msg));
+				} elseif (($limit == 0) || ($pos < $limit)) {
+					// The limit has to be increased since it will be shortened - but not now
+					// Only do it with Twitter (htmlmode = 8)
+					if (($limit > 0) && (strlen($link) > 23) && ($htmlmode == 8)) {
+						$limit = $limit - 23 + strlen($link);
+					}
+
+					$link = '';
+
+					if ($post['type'] == 'text') {
+						unset($post['url']);
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		if ($limit > 0) {
+			// Reduce multiple spaces
+			// When posted to a network with limited space, we try to gain space where possible
+			while (strpos($msg, '  ') !== false) {
+				$msg = str_replace('  ', ' ', $msg);
+			}
+
+			// Twitter is using its own limiter, so we always assume that shortened links will have this length
+			if (iconv_strlen($link, 'UTF-8') > 0) {
+				$limit = $limit - 23;
+			}
+
+			if (iconv_strlen($msg, 'UTF-8') > $limit) {
+				if (($post['type'] == 'text') && isset($post['url'])) {
+					$post['url'] = $item['plink'];
+				} elseif (!isset($post['url'])) {
+					$limit = $limit - 23;
+					$post['url'] = $item['plink'];
+				} elseif (strpos($item['body'], '[share') !== false) {
+					$post['url'] = $item['plink'];
+				} elseif (PConfig::get($item['uid'], 'system', 'no_intelligent_shortening')) {
+					$post['url'] = $item['plink'];
+				}
+				$msg = Text\Plaintext::shorten($msg, $limit);
+			}
+		}
+
+		$post['text'] = trim($msg);
+
+		return $post;
+	}
+}