The latest Safari beta lets you selectively block distractions like pop-ups
Here you will be able to choose the specific part of a page to block on a website if it does not dynamically change.
iOS update in preview
As if people have been waiting for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia and all the other updates, there are successive updates to the beta versions which Apple has released for the testers. Now, it is releasing the fifth version of the beta for these platforms, with people being able to download it for free. This include some changes for safari and photos.
New: These include; Safari and Distraction Control.
To be more precise, Safari, which is an Apple’s browser, has some specific features that might help to minimize the processes of distraction while navigating specific Web-sites, which are often chaotic and disturbing. These are; Distraction Control tool. But it must be noted that this tool is not to be mistaken for an ad blocker as many may assume. Instead, it draws on portions of a page you’d prefer not to focus on, such as a divider window that invites you subscribe, or cookies.
How does distraction control differ from other fragments of control?
When you enter a website, you can click the button located on the search box and in the page’s toolbar, the menu button. This is where the Reader and Viewer buttons are to be found. Then, you are able to choose ‘Hide all Distractions’ and then mark the area of the page that has to be blinded. Later on, if one revisits them on the web using this domain, all the above elements will be rejected by the domain.
Also, it is necessary to mention that the system is not as clever as one can suppose; You will be the one who will choose the elements of the site to be hidden. There will be no featured or concealed information unless the user tends to choose it intentionally.
Limitations to be taken into account
There are, however, some notable limitations. For example, if something you’ve chosen to block changes in any way, it will reappear on your next visit. In addition, the possibility of blocking cookie permission dialogs stipulated by the GDPR remains uncertain. The answers to these questions remain to be determined.
All those who are curious about these new tools and Distraction Control can try the Apple developer beta. However, it should be remembered that this is a preview software, so it may have bugs. It is therefore wise to back up your data before starting it.