How to block annoying facebook and other social network widgets

Question

We have facebook buttons, twitter buttons, linkedin buttons, google+ buttons, stumbleupon buttons, younameit buttons. These social network buttons and widgets are creeping up the internets like the plague. Sometimes even with cool javascript popups which obscure content if moused over.

How can I get rid of them?

I mean stuff like this:

and this:

and last but not least, this:

How can I get rid of them?

Answer 1

That's pretty simple with the Adblock Plus, here see this tutorial - http://www.techairlines.com/2010/12/12/block-social-buttons-widgets/

short summary:

1. Install Adblock Plus
2. Install this filter: https://monzta.maltekraus.de/adblock_social.txt

Answer 2

Apart from using a classic ad blocker and defining your own rules, I've found Ghostery quite helpful. It blocks most of these add-ons, like Facebook Connect and Twitter, also Google Analytics and all kinds of ad networks.

The idea behind it is to stop those massive ad networks from tracking your browsing habits.

Answer 3

Try the Disconnect addon for Firefox.

If you’re a typical web user, you’re unintentionally sending your browsing history with your name and other personal information to third parties whenever you’re online.

Take control of the data you share with Disconnect!

Disconnect lets you:

• Disable tracking by third parties like Digg, Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Yahoo, without requiring any setup or significantly degrading the usability of the web.
• See how many resource requests are blocked, in real time.
• Easily unblock services, by clicking the toolbar button then services (and reloading current pages) — e.g., so you can play games on Facebook.