If you use Google Chrome, you may have discovered something new: some extensions no longer work. The browser tells you directly that it will disable them and that there is nothing you can do. This change is part of the Manifest V3 (MV3) initiatives.. MV3 promoted a change that involves the “expiration” of all extensions based on the previous version, in (MV2).
This announcement has been delayed since 2019 and means that if you are using an extension, it will no longer work under the new standard. And coincidentally, there is a type of extension that is among the most downloaded and used by the population: ad blockers, like AdGuard or uBlock Origin. Google guarantees that around 85% of extensions have already been migrated to MV3but many others do not, and among them several ad blockers stand out.
What is Manifest and what is it for?
Manifest (or MV) is born in 2010 as an initiative, but it wasn’t until the third iteration that controversy arose
What is the most popular browser in the world? It’s clear: Chrome is currently used by 65% of the world’s population. That’s to say : Every small change to Chrome affects over a billion internet users. It’s really crazy. Another heavyweight follows: almost 19% use Safari. Then 5% would go to Edge and finally Firefox, Samsung Internet, Opera and many others would go, with a share of around 2% each.
Well: some of these browsers, like Opera GX, Brave or Vivaldi, have announced that they will continue to support MV2-based extensions. Which can trigger a certain “shift” from one browser to another. Firefox is free and uses its own protocols and tools, just like Safari. If the “usefulness” of one browser is reduced, it’s easy to switch to another and export all your bookmarks, history, and even websites you’ve turned into apps.
In any case, those who have encountered the uBlock block – excuse the redundancy – can always resort to uBlock Origin Lite, which is a version compatible with MV3 and weighs very little, although its functions are reduced and it is more limited as the application base, also from the same authors.
Safari keeps choosing the best option: letting the user choose
Safari has long taken another initiative regarding ad removal: giving you options to decide whether you want to keep these items or remove them. Because some of these ads are relevant, they may be of interest to youare part of the banners that populate your favorite websites and, in short, it will always be better if you are the one who decides what to delete and what to keep. A measure which may seem to hinder usability, but which rather constitutes the only logical alternative.
To better understand what we are talking about, here is how to proceed:
- Access any web page in Safari
- Now tap on the play icon, located at the bottom bar.
- Choose the “Hide Distractions” option. A notice will appear informing you that this tool does not hide advertisements or banners that are constantly reloading, they are simply an accessibility option so you can browse and read more comfortably.
- You can now choose which items to hide. Select the ones you think are appropriate – you can even hide images from an article.
- Like the popular cliché of Thanos, the Marvel villain, the elements you have decided to hide will disappear one by one, evaporating like ashes.
- That doesn’t mean it disappears. You can tap the play icon again to choose show hidden items and thus restore the page to its original state.
In our opinion, this is the best and most respectful alternative. And it will always be better than changing browsers. Of course, you can also wait for possible updates, as the uBlock Origin developers will most likely adopt the MV3 expansion measures in the coming weeks. What is clear is that the Manifest V3 is a step forward that Google is not going to back down from.
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