Blocking Facebook quizzes just got easier

Jared Atchison (jared) Facebook is finally giving its users the ability to block those pesky quizzes from polluting their news feeds.

October 14, 2009 12:29 PM ET in News, ,

Facebook is finally giving users the ability to block those pesky quizzes from polluting their news feeds.

Oh sure, you could block them before, but the Facebook API essentially forced you to block every quiz individually. This was due to the fact that the app developers were giving each quiz its own unique app ID. So even though you blocked the “How would you do in a fight against Chuck Norris?” quiz,  the “Where will Kanye interrupt you?” quiz could still sneak into your news feed.

facebook quiz

Yo, I'm happy for you, and I'ma letchu finish, but I'm the best picture of all time. OF ALL TIME.

Facebook has responded to these growing concerns by updating their Application API. The new update allows users to not only block an application, but the parent application as well. Blocking a parent application prevents a developer’s quizzes and applications from appearing in your news feed. The new functionality can be found under the “hide” button that appears when you mouse over an entry in your Facebook feed.

Who would hide Mafia Wars? That shit's so cash!

Who would hide Mafia Wars? That shit's so cash!

Facebook app devs can’t be happy about this, but we’re pretty sure most readers don’t care to know that their friend found a lonely Brown Cow on their farm.

18 Comments:

  1. Starman
    14 Oct '09, 4:53 pm

    I have certainly seen enough lonely cows and "what elemental vampire demon are you" quizzes. Thanks for the article.

  2. wahay
    14 Oct '09, 5:11 pm

    One of the reasons I went to Twitter and left Facebook in the dust.

  3. mjollie
    14 Oct '09, 5:54 pm

    Where's the "like" button?

  4. Gargoyle
    14 Oct '09, 5:57 pm

    Thank God.

  5. Colgere
    14 Oct '09, 6:00 pm

    Finally!

  6. Koreish
    14 Oct '09, 6:06 pm

    Took them forever and a year to do something right.

  7. ardichoke
    14 Oct '09, 7:12 pm

    This is exactly why I install Greasemonkey and the Facebook Purity script on my computer.

  8. pigflipper
    14 Oct '09, 7:13 pm

    I've noticed that some apps have started posting to the users wall as a regular post instead of an app post. Can't block those without blocking the person.

  9. Thrax
    14 Oct '09, 7:14 pm

    I went through and purged every app I could find from reappearing on my feed. Sweet sanity.

  10. Annes
    14 Oct '09, 7:41 pm

    Based on the article, I couldn't tell what to do. After some poking and prodding I figured it out.

    Here's the specifics:
    1) Go to your Friends Feed and find an irritating application
    2) Click on the Application name, which is down by the post time
    3) Once at the Application page, click the Block Application link to the left
    4) Stare in wonder as the application disappears from your Friends Feed

    Here are links to some of the more evil offenders:
    Mafia Wars
    YoVille
    Quiz Creator
    Quiz Monster
    Make a Quiz!
    Horoscopes
    Happy Aquarium
    Island Paradise
    Bejewled Blitz

  11. Thrax
    14 Oct '09, 8:04 pm

    You made it way too complicated. All you have to do is mouse over the post in your news feed and click the "hide" button. If a developer is associated with the app, you can block the entire developer from that menu. If there is no developer listed, you can just block that app.

  12. Starman
    14 Oct '09, 8:51 pm

    Alternatively, you could infiltrate the staff of the more corporate-level application creators, slowly and subtly sabotage their funding, and bankrupt them over the course of a year or more.

    I just did what Thrax said, though.

  13. Gargoyle
    14 Oct '09, 9:14 pm
    Quoting ardichoke

    This is exactly why I install Greasemonkey and the Facebook Purity script on my computer.

    That never worked right for me. Usually, it either did nothing, or blocked whole blocks of posts not having anything to do with spam apps.

  14. ardichoke
    14 Oct '09, 9:20 pm
    Quoting Gargoyle

    That never worked right for me. Usually, it either did nothing, or blocked whole blocks of posts not having anything to do with spam apps.

    ... and nothing of value was lost.

  15. jack kirbala
    16 Oct '09, 4:03 pm

    facebook purity works fine for me its compatible with all the major browsers (firefox, google chrome, safari and opera) and it even has a cool whitelist function.

  16. Thrax
    16 Oct '09, 4:08 pm

    No shilling in the champagne room.

  17. jack kirbala
    28 Oct '09, 7:35 pm

    btw your link in the parent article does not relate to your blog post whatsoever. theres no mention of blocking apps on the facebook page you link to...

  18. jared
    28 Oct '09, 7:43 pm

    The launch of the Create Application API, which the article talks about, is what gives users the new ability to block the parent apps.

    I suppose next time I can try to find something more specific in the developer wiki.

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