Twitter isn't the same. Honestly, it’s a mess. Between the algorithmic "For You" feed shoving random viral clips down your throat and the relentless flood of "Blue Check" replies that add zero value to the conversation, the platform feels claustrophobic. You just want to see what your friends are saying. Instead, you get ads for crypto scams and AI-generated lifestyle advice. It’s exhausting.
That’s exactly why the Control Panel for Twitter browser extension exists.
It isn't some official tool from X Corp. It’s an open-source rebellion. Created by developer Thomas Wilburn, this browser extension (available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari/iOS) basically acts as a surgical tool. It cuts out the algorithmic bloat and gives you back the chronological, clean experience that made the site useful in the first place. If you've been feeling like you’re fighting the interface just to find a single piece of actual news, you aren't alone.
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What the Control Panel for Twitter Actually Changes
The primary goal here is simple: control. By default, X wants to keep you scrolling by showing you "Engagement." Control Panel for Twitter says no to that.
One of its most powerful features is the ability to force the "Following" feed. You know how you'll click "Following," leave the site, and come back ten minutes later only to find yourself back on the "For You" tab? It’s annoying. This extension locks you into the chronological feed. It stays there.
But it goes deeper than just tab switching. You can hide the "algorithmic" junk entirely. That means no "Who to follow" sidebars, no "Relevant people," and no "Topics to follow." It turns the interface into a focused stream of text and media from people you actually chose to follow. It’s a minimalist's dream, really.
Fixing the Reply Problem
If you spend any time in the replies of a popular post, you've noticed the "Blue Check" problem. Because the platform prioritizes accounts that pay for Premium, the top 50 replies are often just "Wow!" or "Check this out!" or bot-driven nonsense. The actual insightful conversation is buried at the bottom.
Control Panel for Twitter lets you hide those verified replies or even hide the entire "Verified" tab. It levels the playing field. You can also hide the "View Count" on tweets. Does it really matter if a post has 1.2 million views? Probably not, but that number is designed to trigger a dopamine response. Stripping it away makes the experience feel much more like the early 2010s internet—less about performance and more about information.
The Privacy and Security Aspect
People are rightfully skeptical about browser extensions. You're giving a piece of software access to how you view a website.
The good news? This is open-source. You can literally go to GitHub and read every line of code Thomas Wilburn wrote. It doesn't track you. It doesn't phone home with your data. It just modifies the CSS and Javascript of the page locally on your machine.
Contrast that with the "official" experience. X is constantly tracking your hover time, your scroll speed, and which ads you linger on to build a profile of your interests. By hiding the "Explore" tab and the "Trending" sidebar, you're actually reducing the amount of data the platform can bait you into providing. You aren't clicking on trending hashtags you don't care about, so the algorithm learns less about your "curiosity" and leaves you alone.
Customization That Goes Too Far (In a Good Way)
Some people just want a clean feed. Others want to rebuild the entire UI. This extension handles both.
You can:
- Hide the "Grok" button (that AI assistant that keeps popping up).
- Remove the "Subscribe to Premium" prompts that clutter the sidebar.
- Make the "Home" icon actually go to your chronological feed every time.
- Change the font to something more readable or "legacy."
- Hide the "See new Tweets" toast notification that jumps the page around.
It’s about friction. Modern social media is designed with "positive friction"—things that catch your eye and stop you from leaving. Control Panel for Twitter removes that friction. You get in, see what happened, and get out.
Using it on Mobile
Most people think extensions are just for desktop. That's a mistake. If you use Safari on an iPhone or iPad, you can actually install this extension.
It changes everything. The mobile web version of X is surprisingly capable, and when paired with this control panel, it’s arguably better than the official app. You get a clean, ad-free-ish (it hides many "Promoted" posts) experience without the bloat of a 200MB app tracking your location in the background. It turns your phone back into a tool rather than a distraction machine.
Why This Matters for the Future of the Web
We are currently in the era of "Enshittification." This is a term coined by writer Cory Doctorow to describe how platforms start out being good to users, then transition to being good to advertisers, and finally end up being bad for everyone just to claw back some profit.
X is the poster child for this.
Control Panel for Twitter is a "user-side" fix. It acknowledges that the company running the platform isn't going to make it better for you. They have different incentives. If you want a better experience, you have to take it. You have to use tools that sit between you and the server to filter out the noise. It’s a small act of digital sovereignty.
Does it break?
Yes, sometimes. X updates its code constantly. Sometimes they change the name of a button or the way a container is labeled in the HTML. When that happens, the extension might stop hiding a certain element.
However, the community around this tool is fast. Because it's open-source, updates usually roll out within days—or even hours—of a major site change. It’s a cat-and-mouse game, but the mouse is currently winning.
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Actionable Steps to Reclaim Your Feed
If you’re tired of the chaos, here is exactly how to set this up right now. Don't wait for the algorithm to get better; it won't.
- Install the Extension: Go to the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, or the iOS App Store. Search for "Control Panel for Twitter." Ensure the developer is Thomas Wilburn to get the authentic version.
- Enable "Separate Tabs": In the settings, find the option to separate "For You" and "Following." Better yet, use the setting to hide the "For You" tab entirely.
- Kill the Sidebars: Toggle off "Who to follow," "Trending," and "Relevant people." Your screen will suddenly feel twice as large and ten times quieter.
- Filter Replies: If you hate the blue-check priority, look for the "Hide Verified Replies" or "Move Verified Replies to Bottom" options. This single change restores the quality of discussions instantly.
- Hide Distractions: Turn off view counts and the "Grok" button.
- Review the "UI Improvements" Section: There are dozens of tiny toggles here, like hiding the "Post" button that floats over your feed or removing the "Live" video carousels.
By the time you're done, the site will look different. It will look boring. And that's the point. The internet should be a place where you consume information, not a place where information consumes you. Using a control panel for twitter isn't just about aesthetics; it's about mental health and taking back your time from an algorithm designed to waste it.