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Here’s why ad blockers don’t work in the Apple News app

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Here’s why ad blockers don’t work in the Apple News app

Why don’t content blockers — aka ad blockers — work in Apple News? Here’s the deal!

Apple’s content blocker extensions, released last year, let third party apps set up rules to block ads, web fonts, comments, and other content in Safari and the also-new Safari View Controller, used in apps like Tweetbot to show web pages.

Content blockers don’t, however, work in Apple’s own News app. So, if a publisher doesn’t serve Apple News Format, or provide a full RSS feed for Apple News to render, Apple News has to go out and get the original web page… ads and all. That’s has led some to ask if there’s a massive massive conspiracy at play designed to protect the ads of publishers enrolled in Apple’s News program. The truth, of course, is far simpler and more mundane.

iOS content blockers only work in Safari and Safari View Controller
News.app isn’t Safari and doesn’t use Safari View Controller.
Safari View Controller offers a lot of performance and power, but it’s tightly locked down …

Why don't content material blockers — aka ad blockers — work in Apple News? Here's the deal!

Apple's content material blocker extensions, launched final yr, let 3rd birthday celebration apps arrange regulations to dam advertisements, internet fonts, feedback, and different content material in Safari and the also-new Safari View Controller, used in apps like Tweetbot to turn internet pages.

Content material blockers don't, then again, work in Apple's personal News app. So, if a writer does not serve Apple News Layout, or supply a complete RSS feed for Apple News to render, Apple News has to head out and get the unique internet web page... advertisements and all. That is has led some to invite if there is a large large conspiracy at play designed to offer protection to the advertisements of publishers enrolled in Apple's News program. The reality, in fact, is a long way more effective and extra mundane.

  • iOS content material blockers solely work in Safari and Safari View Controller
  • News.app is not Safari and does not use Safari View Controller.

Safari View Controller gives a large number of efficiency and tool, however it is tightly locked down for safety causes. That suggests, if you wish to have a extra versatile, customized method to display a internet web page, you must use certainly one of the previous frameworks, like WKWebView. News needs to customise its internet view to appear to be the app — take a look at the buttons at the backside — so it is the use of WKWebView.

That suggests no content material blockers, and no different extensions whose activation regulations, like content material blockers, solely display up for Safari or Safari View Controller. (My password supervisor, as an example, does not display up.)

With a purpose to get content material blockers — and different apple.active-webpage sure extensions — running in News, Apple must back-port enhance to the older internet perspectives, like WKWebView, or make Safari View Controller extra customizable and turn to the use of that as an alternative. (Simple for me to mention — I am a author, I don't need to enforce it or actual with the safety ramifications!)

Both approach, it is a technical limitation, now not an evil plan. (I double-checked that with a couple of developer pals in detail conversant in motion extensions, simply to ensure.) So, revel in News the approach it's for now or in finding your self a piece of writing studying app you revel in extra. That is the great thing about the app ecosystem.

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