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I used to Google things on mobile and append `site:reddit.com` to filter out SEO-laden blogspam and zero in on the familiar confirmation bias of other reddit ad

I used to Google things on mobile and append `site:reddit.com` to filter out SEO-laden blogspam and zero in on the familiar confirmation bias of other reddit addicts. Then I had to tolerate the following antipattern of the modern web: 1. tap a Google search result link 2. tap the tiny "i" icon on the left side of the stupid AMP page header to display the actual URL of the page I'm trying to navigate to 3. tap the displayed URL itself in the AMP header 4. close reddit's "this looks better in the app!" bottom banner 5. scroll down and tap "VIEW ALL X COMMENTS" So fast. So usable. On the bright side, this rigmarole has really done wonders for my productivity because I've simply stopped bothering.

OJFord 5y ago
> close reddit's "this looks better in the app!" bottom banner I hate that. It's self-fulfulling really isn't it, may as well simply read 'this banner not present in the app'. A bit like those joke signs warning you not to steal/deface the sign.
- cube00 5y ago
  At least they stopped with the "you deserve the best"
raldi 5y ago
I don’t go anywhere without my “turn off AMP” and “kill dickbars” bookmarklets.
- acqq 5y ago
  Can you publish them please?
  - raldi 5y ago
    javascript:(function()%7B(function%20()%20%7Bvar%20i%2C%20elements%20%3D%20document.querySelectorAll('body%20\*')%3Bfor%20(i%20%3D%200%3B%20i%20%3C%20elements.length%3B%20i%2B%2B)%20%7Bif%20(getComputedStyle(elements%5Bi%5D).position%20%3D%3D%3D%20'fixed')%20%7Belements%5Bi%5D.parentNode.removeChild(elements%5Bi%5D)%3B%7D%7D%7D)()%7D)() javascript:var%20url%20=%20false;var%20links%20=%20document.getElementsByTagName('link');Object.keys(links).forEach(function(key)%7Bif(links%5Bkey%5D.rel%20!==%20'canonical')%7Breturn;%7D;url%20=%20links%5Bkey%5D.href;%7D);if(!url)%7B%20alert('No%20Canonical%20URL');%20%7D;if(url)%7Bdocument.location%20=%20url;%7D;
    - sunshineforever 5y ago
      How do I use this?
      - raldi 5y ago
        Google bookmarklet
    - acqq 5y ago
      Many thanks!
clydethefrog 5y ago
I am also happy the AMP reddit links are gone - because it was a way to bypass my reddit block on my phone. To get a quick readable version you always add a i. to the URL, so i.reddit.com. I am afraid of the day they will remove that.
GuB-42 5y ago
Reddit mobile is deliberately terrible, amp or not. They want you to use their app. Use "old.reddit.com" (old style, best on desktop but ok on mobile) or "i.reddit.com" (minimalist, for mobile) if you want something usable.
- kevincox 5y ago
  If you log into Reddit you can configure reddit.com to use the old interface. (at least for now).
  - Stratoscope 5y ago
    That works on desktop, not on mobile.
    - ewindal 5y ago
      Sure it does. I’m defaulting to old reddit without old in the url while browsing on mobile.
      - p49k 5y ago
        Yes, but every couple days it switches back and you have to “request desktop site”.
        alisonkisk 5y ago
        And it forces a super wide layout that requires either zooming out microscopic font size or scrolling horizontally for every line of text.
  - lmm 5y ago
    No you can't, it will pretend to accept your preference and then randomly reset it after a few days.
    - kevincox 5y ago
kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
You could've just used Firefox and old Reddit.
mwaitjmp 5y ago
Very true.... I’ve suffered the exact same process for years. Step 2 is the worst, not sure why but sometimes it’s incredibly hard to tap the i button. New reddit is is a very strange design. I always thought the way it hides comment threads as a link to a new page was just a mobile thing, but no, that’s the design. The old site is so so much better. Trying to get to it from a google search is infuriating, especially if you are trying to view multiple results. Imagine doing the above steps 5 times for 5 different results!
mhh__ 5y ago
It is better in the app, just usually not one of their creation...
- SV_BubbleTime 5y ago
  I wish people understood how much power and information apps installed on phones had compared to websites. “Nudging” to install an app you use to collect a ton more data because you intentionally broke the website is fucking evil. Maybe someone has a Reddit app that isn’t a data mining jerk. IDK. But if not, I still prefer to give no one extra data over just not giving it to Reddit.
  - alickz 5y ago
    What information do apps have access to (without asking permission) that websites don't have?
saagarjha 5y ago
Sadly Reddit has been A/B testing changes where they decide to hide the X button in that banner.
DocG 5y ago
I changed to FF mobile just because of amp.. Ain't going back either, the URL bar is at the bottom. It's magical ^^
skunkworker 5y ago
On my iPhone I setup a shortcut that will take a reddit url and open it natively in Narwhal. It's very handy and I'm not a huge fan of the official reddit app.
nonpolitic 5y ago
To be fair, Reddit itself is mostly to blame for the UX hellhole it's become. AMP certainly doesn't help but they have made so many shortsighted decisions recently wrt app nags etc completely of their own accord in their ongoing weird push towards engagement/monetisation.

OJFord 5y ago

> close reddit's "this looks better in the app!" bottom banner I hate that. It's self-fulfulling really isn't it, may as well simply read 'this banner not present in the app'. A bit like those joke signs warning you not to steal/deface the sign.

cube00 5y ago
At least they stopped with the "you deserve the best"

raldi 5y ago

I don’t go anywhere without my “turn off AMP” and “kill dickbars” bookmarklets.

acqq 5y ago
Can you publish them please?
- raldi 5y ago
  javascript:(function()%7B(function%20()%20%7Bvar%20i%2C%20elements%20%3D%20document.querySelectorAll('body%20\*')%3Bfor%20(i%20%3D%200%3B%20i%20%3C%20elements.length%3B%20i%2B%2B)%20%7Bif%20(getComputedStyle(elements%5Bi%5D).position%20%3D%3D%3D%20'fixed')%20%7Belements%5Bi%5D.parentNode.removeChild(elements%5Bi%5D)%3B%7D%7D%7D)()%7D)() javascript:var%20url%20=%20false;var%20links%20=%20document.getElementsByTagName('link');Object.keys(links).forEach(function(key)%7Bif(links%5Bkey%5D.rel%20!==%20'canonical')%7Breturn;%7D;url%20=%20links%5Bkey%5D.href;%7D);if(!url)%7B%20alert('No%20Canonical%20URL');%20%7D;if(url)%7Bdocument.location%20=%20url;%7D;
  - sunshineforever 5y ago
    How do I use this?
    - raldi 5y ago
      Google bookmarklet
  - acqq 5y ago
    Many thanks!

clydethefrog 5y ago

I am also happy the AMP reddit links are gone - because it was a way to bypass my reddit block on my phone. To get a quick readable version you always add a i. to the URL, so i.reddit.com. I am afraid of the day they will remove that.

GuB-42 5y ago

Reddit mobile is deliberately terrible, amp or not. They want you to use their app. Use "old.reddit.com" (old style, best on desktop but ok on mobile) or "i.reddit.com" (minimalist, for mobile) if you want something usable.

kevincox 5y ago
If you log into Reddit you can configure reddit.com to use the old interface. (at least for now).
- Stratoscope 5y ago
  That works on desktop, not on mobile.
  - ewindal 5y ago
    Sure it does. I’m defaulting to old reddit without old in the url while browsing on mobile.
    - p49k 5y ago
      Yes, but every couple days it switches back and you have to “request desktop site”.
      - alisonkisk 5y ago
        And it forces a super wide layout that requires either zooming out microscopic font size or scrolling horizontally for every line of text.
- lmm 5y ago
  No you can't, it will pretend to accept your preference and then randomly reset it after a few days.
  - kevincox 5y ago

kevin_thibedeau 5y ago

You could've just used Firefox and old Reddit.

mwaitjmp 5y ago

Very true.... I’ve suffered the exact same process for years. Step 2 is the worst, not sure why but sometimes it’s incredibly hard to tap the i button. New reddit is is a very strange design. I always thought the way it hides comment threads as a link to a new page was just a mobile thing, but no, that’s the design. The old site is so so much better. Trying to get to it from a google search is infuriating, especially if you are trying to view multiple results. Imagine doing the above steps 5 times for 5 different results!

mhh__ 5y ago

It is better in the app, just usually not one of their creation...

SV_BubbleTime 5y ago
I wish people understood how much power and information apps installed on phones had compared to websites. “Nudging” to install an app you use to collect a ton more data because you intentionally broke the website is fucking evil. Maybe someone has a Reddit app that isn’t a data mining jerk. IDK. But if not, I still prefer to give no one extra data over just not giving it to Reddit.
- alickz 5y ago
  What information do apps have access to (without asking permission) that websites don't have?

saagarjha 5y ago

Sadly Reddit has been A/B testing changes where they decide to hide the X button in that banner.

DocG 5y ago

I changed to FF mobile just because of amp.. Ain't going back either, the URL bar is at the bottom. It's magical ^^

skunkworker 5y ago

On my iPhone I setup a shortcut that will take a reddit url and open it natively in Narwhal. It's very handy and I'm not a huge fan of the official reddit app.

nonpolitic 5y ago

To be fair, Reddit itself is mostly to blame for the UX hellhole it's become. AMP certainly doesn't help but they have made so many shortsighted decisions recently wrt app nags etc completely of their own accord in their ongoing weird push towards engagement/monetisation.