Firefox extension to redirect x.com to xcancel.com

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Reception of the extension

  • Many are pleased it’s a Firefox-first add‑on, contrasting with the usual “Chrome-only” tools.
  • Several report installing and testing it successfully; it “does exactly what it says.”
  • A few worry that publicizing such workarounds may tempt X to break xcancel or similar services.

Firefox, Chromium, and extension trust

  • Some criticize the irony of people who oppose surveillance or centralization yet still use Chrome.
  • Firefox is praised as the only major non-Chromium alternative besides Safari, with mentions of Waterfox/Floorp.
  • Others are wary of any browser extensions: fear of buy‑outs, adware, and weak Mozilla vetting leads some to prefer userscripts, bookmarklets, or host-level blocking.

Why people want xcancel-style redirects

  • Core use case: people without X/Twitter accounts who still encounter links (HN, news, artists, public figures).
  • X’s UX for logged‑out users is described as deliberately hostile: login walls, broken or flaky behavior, and anti-bot measures.
  • Some see tools like xcancel as a way to access public discourse while denying X metrics, tracking, and direct engagement.
  • Others argue that depending on services one “hates” is sad and suggest fully quitting; pushback notes that important information, art, and announcements are still effectively locked behind X.

Alternatives and general redirect tools

  • LibRedirect, Redirector, Regurlator, and similar “universal redirect” extensions are frequently recommended as more general solutions covering YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, etc.
  • Some prefer manual or lightweight approaches: JavaScript bookmarklets, Tampermonkey/Greasemonkey scripts, hosts-file entries, reverse proxies (e.g., Caddy), or mobile redirect apps.
  • For Instagram and Reddit, people share specific redirect targets like imginn and various Redlib instances.

Debate over X/Twitter and social media

  • Strong hostility toward X as politically toxic, rage‑bait driven, and technically degraded; some deleted accounts or firewall the domain.
  • Others claim X remains uniquely valuable for real‑time political and cultural discourse if you avoid the “For You” feed and curate who you follow.
  • Broader skepticism of social media as a whole surfaces; some users prefer forums and niche communities instead.
  • There is extended argument over whether to call the site “Twitter” or “X,” with most finding “X” an awkward and ambiguous rebrand.