IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Web Browsers have stopped blocking pop-ups

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. User Frustration with Intrusive Modals

Users decry cookie banners, newsletter prompts, and app modals as UX killers that drive abandonment.
"dpark: 1. Pop up demanding I make a choice about their cookies. 2. Pop up telling me my adblocker is bad... Every. fucking. site."
"tantivy: I'm often so flustered to be interrupted by yet-another-marketing-modal that I will just close the tab and abandon whatever task."

2. Ad Blockers as Effective Solutions

uBlock Origin with annoyances lists, Consent-O-Matic, and NoScript are widely praised for blocking modals.
"asadotzler: Firefox and uBlock Origin with a couple of user filters and haven't seen a window or modal popup in ages."
"pentagrama: On uBlock Origin settings > Filter lists > Annoyances Check all the items and it may improve your experience."

3. Tactics Persist Due to Proven ROI

Sites use modals for revenue despite backlash, as discounts convert some users and annoyances boost engagement metrics.
"kogepathic: If you intend to purchase an item from the merchant anyway, why would you pass on 20% off? I sign up for newsletters to get a discount then immediately unsubscribe."
"aaplok: Being obnoxious works well. Obnoxious people get elected... Obnoxious companies generate hype that increases stock prices."

🚀 Project Ideas

ModalAnnihilator

Summary

  • AI-driven browser extension that detects and auto-dismisses or hides intrusive modals, cookie banners, newsletter popups, and app promotion overlays using computer vision and behavioral heuristics, improving on uBlock's annoyances lists.
  • Core value: Frictionless browsing without manual zapping or site breakage, saving users time on every visit.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Web users frustrated by popups/modals (e.g., HN commenters using uBlock/NoScript but wanting automation)
Core Feature Real-time DOM scanning + ML model to classify/eliminate annoyances; user-trainable via one-click feedback
Tech Stack Firefox/Chrome extension; TensorFlow.js for ML; cosmetic filters like uBlock
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium ($2/mo pro for cloud ML updates)

Notes

  • "I'm often so flustered to be interrupted by yet-another-marketing-modal that I will just close the tab" (tantivy); HN users praise uBlock annoyances but note breakage (wolvoleo).
  • High utility for daily browsing; viral potential via HN/Reddit shares.

iOSShield

Summary

  • Native iOS content blocker app using WKContentRuleList API enhanced with on-device ML to block modals, trackers, cookie banners, and YouTube sponsor segments beyond Safari limits.
  • Core value: Full ad/popup-free experience on iOS without jailbreak, addressing "lobotomised" Firefox and janky SponsorBlock.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience iOS users (esp. EU) tired of limited blockers like AdGuard/Wipr (oxguy3, wolvoleo)
Core Feature Custom filter engine + SponsorBlock integration; auto-consent rejection; per-site whitelisting
Tech Stack SwiftUI + WebKit; CoreML for modal detection; SponsorBlock API
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: $4.99 one-time purchase

Notes

  • "The options on iOS are naturally a bit more limited" (oxguy3); "Firefox version... is lobotomised" (hagbard_c); EU DMA opens doors for full features.
  • Practical for mobile-heavy users; sparks iOS privacy discussions on HN.

ArticleCoin

Summary

  • Browser extension + wallet service enabling micropayments (e.g., $0.10/article) to bypass paywalls/news popups via standardized API, pooling funds for redistribution to publishers.
  • Core value: Pay-for-what-you-read without subscriptions, solving "why not auto-skip... Premium isn't worth it" for content access.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience News readers hating paywalls/popups (rrradical, wolvoleo: "€0.50 to read this article")
Core Feature Detect paywall → prompt micro-tx via Lightning/Stripe; proxy clean article view
Tech Stack WebExtension; Web LN (Lightning Network); publisher opt-in SDK
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: 10% tx fee

Notes

  • "Really, YouTube should just auto skip sponsor segments for premium users... more people would subscribe" (wolvoleo); extends to news: "pay some small fee... to read an article" (rrradical).
  • Fuels HN debates on sustainable content models; utility for archive.ph users.

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