Apple Safari’s newest feature, Distraction Control, can remove distracting elements from a website. This feature is similar to Arc Browser’s Boosts, introduced last year, which allows users to remove features from a site and further customize its appearance.
Apple Early Version Rollout
Apple is rolling out the early version of the Distraction Control feature this week through new developer betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. This phased rollout aims to gather developer feedback before making the feature available to the general public.
Apple Accessing Distraction Control
Users can access the Distraction Control tool in the Smart Search field from the Page Menu. Once activated, users can select the items on the website they want to remove. Safari will remember to remove these elements the next time the user visits the site. However, this choice doesn’t currently sync across hardware, so users must hide the elements on each new device.
Apple Unhiding Elements
To unhide any of the web page’s elements, users can click the blue Hide icon in the search field and select “Show hidden items.” This flexibility allows users to customize their browsing experience dynamically, adding or removing elements as needed.
Apple Limitations of the Feature
Apple has indicated that the Distraction Control feature won’t remove ads or sections with frequently changing content. It’s not clear if this tool will be able to remove dynamic sections like “Who to follow” or “Explore” on X, as these elements appear in the same place on the homepage, but the content within those boxes is dynamic. During testing last year, Arc Browser’s Boost tool was able to remove these sections, suggesting that Safari’s feature may need further refinement to match this capability.
Additional Features in iOS 18
With iOS 18, Apple also introduced several other enhancements aimed at improving the user experience:
- Redesigned Reader: The new reader mode offers better listening and font controls, making it easier for users to consume content according to their preferences.
- Highlights: This new feature surfaces important information from a page, including quick links for driving directions, call information, and summaries of TV show reviews mentioned on a page. Highlights make it easier for users to find and act on relevant information without scouring the entire page.
Developer and User Reactions
The introduction of Distraction Control has been met with mixed reactions from developers and early users. Some praise the feature for its potential to create a cleaner, more focused browsing experience. In contrast, others criticize its current limitations, particularly its inability to sync preferences across devices and its restriction on removing ads and dynamic content.
Apple is expected to refine the Distraction Control feature based on feedback from the beta testing phase. Future updates may address some limitations, making the tool more versatile and user-friendly. Users and developers will now watch closely to see how this new feature evolves and impacts their daily browsing habits.
