Apple Finally Takes Action Against Cluttered Web with Helpful New Safari Feature

Safari, the newest addition to Apple’s browser, aims to declutter the constantly cluttered mobile web pages.

According to MacRumours, the latest developer beta versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia have been released by Apple. These updates include the addition of Distraction Control to the Safari browser.

Distraction Control allows you to manually hide static elements from a web page, in contrast to ad-blockers which only filter out dynamic advertisements.

Distraction Control can effectively block persistent newsletter sign-up pop-ups, cookie preference alerts, auto-playing videos, and sign-in windows.

However, it’s important to note that Distraction Control is not an ad blocker, even though it can conceal static content. Temporary removal of ads may occur, but they will appear again after refreshing the page. This feature is not intended for dynamic elements.

Using Distraction Control

Ensure that you’ve downloaded the fifth developer beta version of the OS on your device
Navigate to Page Menu in Safari
Select “Hide Distracting Items.”
Afterward, you have the option to select particular sections on the page that you want to conceal.
To view hidden elements, simply click on the “Show Hidden Items” option located in the Safari search field.
This immediately displays all the elements that were previously hidden on a specific webpage.

Safari on multiple Apple devices — Apple

Apple has adopted an opt-in method for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users, granting them complete authority over hidden content. This guarantees that nothing will vanish without their consent.

Surprisingly, your Distraction Control preferences are saved on your device and will not be synchronized across your Apple ecosystem. This indicates that you will need to configure your preferences manually on each device separately.

In addition to Distraction Control, Apple is also implementing various other features in Safari. These will include the Highlights feature, which enables quick access to important information from websites.

Apple is also unveiling a redesigned Reader interface, which will include a table of contents and summaries. Additionally, they are introducing an immersive video viewer that aims to reduce distractions while playing videos.