Apple's Safari Introduces 'Distraction Control' Feature in iOS18, iPadOS18, and macOS15 Sequoia Beta 5 Updates
TapTechNews August 6th news, in today's iOS18, iPadOS18, and macOS15 Sequoia Beta 5 updates released by Apple, a 'Distraction Control' (DistractionControl) option was introduced for the Safari browser, allowing users to reduce distractions caused by clutter when browsing the web.
Is 'Distraction Control' an ad blocker?
The answer is no.
'Distraction Control' targets parts of the page that would distract you, such as overlay content asking you to subscribe, or even cookie requests.
After a user logs into a website, you can press the page menu button in the search bar (where the reader and viewer buttons are located).
Users can then click 'Hide distractions', and then select the page parts to be filtered out. The Safari browser will remember the user's operation and block that part when repeatedly visiting that domain later.
TapTechNews attached notes:
After the user clicks 'Distraction Control' for the first time, Apple will inform the user that this feature will not permanently delete ads and certain dynamically updated content. Since banner ads on the page usually refresh on the next visit, 'Distraction Control' is not effective against these contents.
Users can choose which parts of the website to hide, but there is no AI to automatically detect which content might distract you, and users will see a blue outline in certain areas and can click to select them. Apple emphasizes that only if the user actively chooses will it be blocked, and by default nothing will be hidden.
If the content (such as a headline or ad) that the user has chosen to block changes, it will reappear on your next visit.
Hiding distractions is only applicable to certain specific domain names, not all websites on the Internet.
How does Distraction Control handle those pesky GDPR cookie requests?
In theory, users can also use the 'Distraction Control' function to hide the Cookie consent request dialog as required by GDPR.
If the user chooses to block these requests, the website will only tell you that the request is closed and will not give you a reply. Depending on the legal requirements in different regions, the website will have to act according to this information.
It is currently unclear how 'Distraction Control' handles the paywalls of websites, especially content with different protection methods.