diff --git a/examples/template.tex b/examples/template.tex
index 9d3cab45..292e868c 100644
--- a/examples/template.tex
+++ b/examples/template.tex
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 \email{john@doe.org}                               % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
 \homepage{www.johndoe.com}                         % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
 \social[linkedin]{john.doe}                        % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
-\social[xing]{john\_doe}                           % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
+\social[xing]{john_doe}                           % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
 \social[twitter]{jdoe}                             % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
 \social[github]{jdoe}                              % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
 \social[gitlab]{jdoe}                              % optional, remove / comment the line if not wanted
diff --git a/moderncv.cls b/moderncv.cls
index 3511c2cd..1fab25ab 100644
--- a/moderncv.cls
+++ b/moderncv.cls
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
 % compatibility package with older versions of moderncv
 \RequirePackageWithOptions{moderncvcompatibility}
 
-\RequirePackage{l3regex}
+%\RequirePackage{l3regex}
 
 %-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 %                class definition
@@ -262,12 +262,12 @@
 \NewDocumentCommand{\social}{O{}O{}m}{%
   \ifthenelse{\equal{#2}{}}%
     {%
-      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{linkedin}}{\collectionadd[linkedin]{socials}{\protect\httplink[#3]{www.linkedin.com/in/#3}}} {}%
-      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{xing}}    {\collectionadd[xing]{socials}    {\protect\httplink[#3]{www.xing.com/profile/#3}}}{}%
-      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{twitter}} {\collectionadd[twitter]{socials} {\protect\httplink[#3]{www.twitter.com/#3}}}     {}%
-      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{github}}  {\collectionadd[github]{socials}  {\protect\httplink[#3]{www.github.com/#3}}}      {}%
-      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{gitlab}}  {\collectionadd[gitlab]{socials}  {\protect\httplink[#3]{www.gitlab.com/#3}}}      {}%
-      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{skype}}   {\collectionadd[skype]{socials}   {#3}}                                            {}%
+      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{linkedin}}{\collectionadd[linkedin]{socials}{\protect\httpslink[#3]{www.linkedin.com/in/#3}}} {}%
+      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{xing}}    {\collectionadd[xing]{socials}    {\protect\httpslink[#3]{www.xing.com/profile/#3}}}{}%
+      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{twitter}} {\collectionadd[twitter]{socials} {\protect\httpslink[#3]{www.twitter.com/#3}}}     {}%
+      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{github}}  {\collectionadd[github]{socials}  {\protect\httpslink[#3]{www.github.com/#3}}}      {}%
+      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{gitlab}}  {\collectionadd[gitlab]{socials}  {\protect\httpslink[#3]{www.gitlab.com/#3}}}      {}%
+      \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{skype}}   {\collectionadd[skype]{socials}   {#3}}                                             {}%
     }
     {\collectionadd[#1]{socials}{\protect\httplink[#3]{#2}}}}
 
@@ -507,6 +507,23 @@
     {\href{http://#2}{#2}}%
     {\href{http://#2}{#1}}}
 
+% makes a https hyperlink with escaped underscore in link name
+% usage: \httpslink[optional text]{link}
+\newcommand*{\httpslink}[2][]{%
+  \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{}}%
+    {\href{https://#2}{\expandafter\escapeunderscore\expandafter{#2}}}
+    {\href{https://#2}{\expandafter\escapeunderscore\expandafter{#1}}}
+}
+
+\ExplSyntaxOn
+\tl_new:N \l_escapeunderscore_tl
+\cs_new:Npn \escapeunderscore #1 {
+    \tl_set:Nn \l_escapeunderscore_tl {#1}
+    \regex_replace_all:nnN {\_} {_} \l_escapeunderscore_tl
+    \tl_use:N \l_escapeunderscore_tl
+}
+\ExplSyntaxOff
+
 % makes an email hyperlink
 % usage: \emaillink[optional text]{link}
 \newcommand*{\emaillink}[2][]{%