Any way to make Facebook suck less?
June 25, 2023 4:33 PM Subscribe
Years ago I used a Safari browser extension that took away a lot of the crap on Facebook -- many ads (but not all), and much of the extra crap (but not all of it). At some point that stopped working, and my feed + the side are cluttered with ads and junk.
I'm sure there isn't a way to get rid of all of it, but is there anything I can do to make it even a bit better? I'm still on FB because some of my valued relationships -- mostly with much older relatives -- happen there; getting these folks to switch is a nonstarter.
I'm sure there isn't a way to get rid of all of it, but is there anything I can do to make it even a bit better? I'm still on FB because some of my valued relationships -- mostly with much older relatives -- happen there; getting these folks to switch is a nonstarter.
Use an adblocker or 2. I don't use Safari; I use Firefox with AdBlocker+ and UBlockOrigin. It helps a lot.
posted by theora55 at 5:04 PM on June 25, 2023
posted by theora55 at 5:04 PM on June 25, 2023
F.B. Purity is also available for Safari.
posted by magicbus at 5:07 PM on June 25, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by magicbus at 5:07 PM on June 25, 2023 [13 favorites]
If it was FB Purity you were using before, you probably just need to update it...it's a constant cold war between the site and the extension.
posted by praemunire at 6:12 PM on June 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 6:12 PM on June 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
Friendly+ (the paid version app).
It's only as mobile app version, and occasionally Fb changes something again and the developers update the app a short while later. It doesn't cost much (one off fee) and for me is worth it for the lack of ad posts rushing at me.
My favourite main feature is the option to hide all posts by any key words that you choose yourself, such as 'sponsored'.
You can also hide any discussions or links to clickbait sites like the dailyfail very easily.
Fb being who they are, some regular posts from friends don't always show in the app, even if you sort by date. But Fb algorithms hide so much anyway.
Occasionally I do need to visit via a regular web browser to accomplish some types of task otherwise unavailable through the app.
But in general, it's pretty good.
posted by many-things at 7:28 PM on June 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's only as mobile app version, and occasionally Fb changes something again and the developers update the app a short while later. It doesn't cost much (one off fee) and for me is worth it for the lack of ad posts rushing at me.
My favourite main feature is the option to hide all posts by any key words that you choose yourself, such as 'sponsored'.
You can also hide any discussions or links to clickbait sites like the dailyfail very easily.
Fb being who they are, some regular posts from friends don't always show in the app, even if you sort by date. But Fb algorithms hide so much anyway.
Occasionally I do need to visit via a regular web browser to accomplish some types of task otherwise unavailable through the app.
But in general, it's pretty good.
posted by many-things at 7:28 PM on June 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
FB Purity is absolutely mandator for making Facebook usable nowadays, even if you already have a general adblocker in your browser.
posted by sindark at 8:53 PM on June 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by sindark at 8:53 PM on June 25, 2023 [1 favorite]
AdGuard is a paid adblocker but it gets rid of all the sponsored posts, for me. It’s always a (lovely) surprise to see just two or three posts by friends and then… nothing, I’m at the end of my feed.
posted by wyzewoman at 1:38 AM on June 26, 2023
posted by wyzewoman at 1:38 AM on June 26, 2023
Second Social Fixer.
posted by Ferrari328 at 5:33 AM on June 26, 2023
posted by Ferrari328 at 5:33 AM on June 26, 2023
As someone who was thinking of asking a similar question—do these work on all the “recommended for you” crap posts that have taken over my feed? (Particularly Friendly+, since I mostly use fb on mobile.)
posted by tan_coul at 7:52 AM on June 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by tan_coul at 7:52 AM on June 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yes, Friendly gets rid of the recommended for you and similar. It also de-algorithms the feed somewhat. I get to see a lot more of what I have actually chosen to see with it than through other methods (browser, official app).
posted by Bottlecap at 11:59 AM on June 26, 2023
posted by Bottlecap at 11:59 AM on June 26, 2023
Yup, nthing FB Purity
posted by soonertbone at 4:59 PM on June 27, 2023
posted by soonertbone at 4:59 PM on June 27, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Hogshead at 4:42 PM on June 25, 2023 [7 favorites]