20

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:

annoying social network buttons on arstechnica.com

and this:

annoying social network buttons on 9gag.com

and last but not least, this:

annoying social network buttons on superuser.com

How can I get rid of them?

2
  • 1
    Sounds like you're pretty tired of "Social Disease" networking, eh? Nov 25, 2011 at 16:56
  • 5
    Oh and another thing, isn't it cute when they're added as floating toolbars that obscure content? Nov 25, 2011 at 17:20

5 Answers 5

21

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
11

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.

enter image description here

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

3
  • 1
    I would somehow feel better about this answer if the front page for Ghostery didn't prominently feature: "Follow Us On Twitter" and "Friend Us on Facebook." :-)
    – Mr.Wizard
    Nov 28, 2011 at 17:47
  • @Mr.Wizard Haha, yeah. I thought the same. But they don't embed any Facebook connect buttons.
    – slhck
    Nov 28, 2011 at 17:48
  • I have not seen this add-on before, but it looks interesting. +1
    – Mr.Wizard
    Nov 28, 2011 at 17:52
5

The Fanboy Annoyance Block List for uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus or any other browser extension that can use AdBlock Plus filter lists in Firefox or Chrome...

...Blocks Social Media Content, In page Pop-Ups and other annoyances; thereby substantially decreasing web page loading times and uncluttering them.

I personally prefer the Fanboy Annoyances block list to the Antisocial list, as it blocks more than just social media content (also in-page popups, newsletters, unnecessary links, self promos and other content that clutters sites unnecessarily). See a comparison between the Antisocial and the Fanboy Annoyance Block List here.

...Or, you could install the Fanboy Ultimate List, which combines the Annoyances block list with EasyPrivacy (blocks trackers), and EasyList (main ad blocking list; a lot of ads are also trackers).

The Anti-Facebook Filters might also be of interest. It is specifically for blocking Facebook content.

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.
1

Use Ghostery. The addon is available for both Firefox & Chrome. Ghostery sees the "invisible" web, detecting trackers, web bugs, pixels, and beacons placed on web pages by Facebook, Google Analytics, and over 500 other ad networks, behavioral data providers, web publishers - all companies interested in your activity.
Firefox Addon
Chrome Addon

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