The Problem with Algorithmic Feeds

X's "For You" tab isn't designed for your benefit—it's designed to keep you scrolling. The algorithmic feed promotes polarization and excessive engagement by showing emotionally charged content based on your interests. This creates an addictive cycle where you lose complete control over your content consumption, often spending far more time on the platform than intended.

The algorithm's goal is engagement, not your well-being. It surfaces content designed to trigger strong emotional responses—outrage, fear, excitement—because these emotions drive interaction. The more you engage, the more time you spend on the platform, and the more ads you see.

This algorithmic approach has several negative consequences:

  • Loss of control: You're no longer choosing what to consume; the algorithm decides for you
  • Emotional manipulation: Content is selected to trigger strong reactions rather than inform or educate
  • Echo chambers: The algorithm reinforces your existing beliefs and interests, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives
  • Time wasting: Endless scrolling becomes the default behavior, eating into productive time
  • Mental health impact: Constant exposure to emotionally charged content can increase stress and anxiety

Taking Back Control

The solution is simple: eliminate the "For You" tab entirely and focus on intentional content consumption through your follows and curated lists. When you only see content from accounts you've consciously chosen to follow or lists you've carefully curated, you regain control over your social media experience.

Why this approach works:

  • Intentional consumption: Every account you follow was a deliberate choice
  • Quality over quantity: Curated lists provide focused, high-quality content
  • Reduced manipulation: No algorithm trying to maximize your engagement
  • Better time management: You can read through your timeline and be done, rather than scrolling endlessly
  • Improved mental health: Less exposure to inflammatory or emotionally manipulative content

The Technical Solution

Since X doesn't provide a built-in option to disable the "For You" tab, we need to use browser scripts to hide it. Browser extensions like Tampermonkey (Chrome) and Greasemonkey (Firefox) allow you to run custom JavaScript code on specific websites, giving you the power to modify how pages appear and behave.

What You'll Need

  1. Tampermonkey (Chrome, Edge, Safari) or Greasemonkey (Firefox)
  2. A custom script that removes the "For You" tab from X.com
  3. Desktop or mobile Firefox (mobile apps don't support extensions)

Installation Steps

Step 1: Install the Browser Extension

For Chrome/Edge:

  • Install Tampermonkey from the Chrome Web Store
  • The extension will add a small icon to your browser toolbar

For Firefox:

  • Install Greasemonkey from Firefox Add-ons
  • The extension icon will appear in your toolbar

Step 2: Understanding the Script

Before installing any userscript, it's important to understand what it does. This script is transparent and focused on a single purpose:

What the script does:

  • Language detection: Automatically detects your browser language (supports English, Spanish, French, and German)
  • Smart redirection: If you land on the "For You" tab, it automatically switches you to "Following"
  • Tab removal: Completely removes the "For You" tab from the interface
  • Dynamic monitoring: Uses modern web APIs to detect when X loads new content and reapplies the changes

What the script does NOT do:

  • No data collection: Doesn't track, store, or transmit any personal information
  • No external connections: Only runs locally in your browser
  • No account modification: Doesn't change your X settings or account
  • Limited scope: Only affects twitter.com and x.com, no other websites

Technical details:

  • Uses MutationObserver to handle X's dynamic content loading
  • Finds tabs by text content in your browser's language
  • Logs actions to browser console for transparency
  • Lightweight with minimal performance impact

You can review the complete source code in this GitHub Gist before installation to verify these claims:

Step 3: Add the Script

  1. Click the Tampermonkey/Greasemonkey icon in your browser
  2. Select "Create a new script" or "New user script"
  3. Copy the script from this GitHub Gist: https://gist.github.com/mariocalin/2826a4844047d0da7bf3acb97457f4c0
  4. Replace the default content with the copied script
  5. Save the script (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S)

Step 4: Enable and Test

  1. Navigate to X.com
  2. The "For You" tab should automatically be hidden
  3. You'll only see "Following" and your other timeline options

Script Details

The script works by:

  1. Detecting the "For You" tab using CSS selectors specific to X's interface
  2. Hiding the tab element using display: none or by removing it entirely
  3. Redirecting automatically to the "Following" tab if you land on "For You"
  4. Running on page load and handling dynamic content updates

The script is lightweight and runs only on X.com, with no impact on other websites or your browser's performance.

Important Consideration: HTML Structure Changes

Keep in mind that X.com frequently updates its interface and HTML structure. When the platform changes how it renders the "For You" tab or modifies the CSS classes and element selectors, the script may stop working properly.

This is a common limitation of userscripts that depend on specific HTML elements and CSS selectors. If the script stops working after a site update, it will need to be updated to target the new selectors or structure. The script maintainer typically releases updates to address these changes, so checking for script updates periodically is recommended.

Platform Limitations

Important note: This solution only works in desktop browsers or mobile Firefox with extensions enabled. The native X apps for Android and iOS don't support browser extensions or script injection.

Mobile Solutions

On mobile, your best option is Firefox with Greasemonkey:

  • Install Firefox mobile
  • Add the Greasemonkey extension
  • Install the same script
  • Use Firefox instead of the native X app

The Bigger Picture

Removing the "For You" tab is just the first step toward healthier social media consumption. Consider these additional strategies:

Curate Your Lists

  • Create themed lists for different interests (tech, news, hobbies)
  • Add accounts that provide value without emotional manipulation
  • Regularly review and clean up your lists

Audit Your Follows

  • Unfollow accounts that consistently post inflammatory content
  • Follow accounts that inform rather than inflame
  • Focus on quality over quantity in your follows

Set Boundaries

  • Use browser time-tracking extensions to monitor usage
  • Set specific times for checking X rather than browsing constantly
  • Turn off push notifications to avoid constant interruptions

This script represents a larger principle: you should control your digital environment, not the other way around. Social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement and ad revenue, often at the expense of user well-being. By taking technical steps to modify these platforms, you're asserting control over your digital experience.

You don't have to accept the defaults. Whether it's hiding algorithmic feeds, blocking ads, or customizing interfaces, modern browsers give you the tools to create a digital environment that serves your goals rather than corporate interests.

The "For You" tab removal script is a small but meaningful step toward intentional technology use. When you eliminate algorithmic manipulation from your social media experience, you're choosing signal over noise, quality over quantity, and intention over impulse.

Your attention is valuable. Make sure you're the one deciding how to spend it.