About 8 months ago I got pretty tired of seeing billionaire spam online. I could not bear to read about yet another rich guy who launched themselves (or their $200,000 car) into outer space 🚀 . I did not care about their expert opinion on the latest meme coin back then. I do not care about their expert opinion on the dangers of AI today.

So… I developed a tiny, free, and open source Firefox browser add-on called “Block the Rich”. It is completely local and private. No data is tracked. No data is phoned home.

The concept is pretty simple: whenever I load a web page, the extension quickly analyzes the content and intelligently blurs out any references to the Forbes Top 10 Billionaires. Some former and wannabe billionaires are blurred out of courtesy as well (I’m looking at you Trump and Kanye 🙄).

This project is a very early prototype that I built in the span of a few days. I have so many awesome ideas for enhancements but the truth is that the wind got completely knocked out of my sails when I put myself out there on Reddit many moons ago. There was absolutely zero public interest. To this day my wife and I are the only ones using the original prototype.

People of Lemmy, do you think there is a place on the internet for such a project, or is it time that I let it go?

Edit: I am blown away by the support from you all. Thank you! I am so excited to start polishing this baby up!

    • @over_cloxEnglish
      6•1 year ago

      Then step away from Google. They might be a big player, but they don’t own the internet…

      • YⓄ乙 English
        -3•1 year ago

        I think they do own it. Dont underestimate google , they are bigger and powerful than some governments.

        • @over_cloxEnglish
          3•1 year ago

          I have a handful of devices here. Some Googled, some not. Believe me, you can definitely use the internet without Google if you want to.

          • YⓄ乙 English
            3•1 year ago

            I am using Firefox but after installing Arrow OS without Gapps my banking apps won’t work, work related apps like Teams, Authy didn’t work and had issues with IM apps. So if I have to be completely isolated then sure I’ll go your route but I have to use my phone for work and other stuff hence I NEED google.

            • @over_cloxEnglish
              -3•1 year ago

              I don’t even have a bank account. Have you ever read the terms of service on paper bills?

              “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private”

              • Captain PoofterEnglish
                1•1 year ago

                Tell that to the food truck that only has a card reader plugged into their phone and no change for a 50$ anyways

                • @over_cloxEnglish
                  -2•1 year ago

                  That sounds like a you problem, move somewhere else where they don’t do such jank.

                  We don’t have that problem here on the Gulf Coast.

                • @over_cloxEnglish
                  -4•1 year ago

                  Read the terms of service on the bill, then demand they honor the terms literally printed by the government and the US Treasury.