Prone to web surfing? Google Chrome’s new Focus Mode fights internet distractions

By Michael Archambault Published April 9, 2019

Have you ever tried to concentrate hard on your work, but found yourself quickly becoming distracted by adorable cat photos on Reddit or videos on YouTube? Google might have a solution to help us fight our short attention spans and it’s called Focus Mode. While it may not exist yet, Focus Mode appears to be right around the corner. A new flag has been detected within Google Chrome that signals whether or not the mode is switched on.

Different applications have tackled the problem of getting people to focus while working on a computer, with software solutions available for both Mac and PC. Now, Google will also be stepping into the ring. Little information is known about the feature, except that it will soon be making its way to the world’s most popular web browser. The flag notes that if “#focus-mode” is enabled, it allows a user to switch to Focus Mode.

Recommended Videos

But what exactly is Focus Mode and how could it work? At the moment, we can only speculate on what features the new option might offer to users — or should we say lack of features? Typically, enabling a focus mode will restrict specific websites or applications from being accessed. It is possible that once activated, Focus Mode may stop a user from browsing sites such as YouTube, Reddit, and Facebook. Some have suggested that the mode may integrate with Windows 10‘s Focus Assist.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Available on PCs running Windows 10, Focus Assist is a feature that allows users to silence notifications and other distracting pop-ups. Could it be possible that Google Chrome’s Focus Mode works with Windows 10 to stop websites from screaming out for your attention or to minimize announcements that might come from sites such as Gmail or Twitter?

As Focus Mode is currently non-functional, Google Chrome users will need to wait a bit longer before learning more about the new incoming feature. We will most likely see Focus Mode in a test build such as Chrome Canary before it makes its way to the mainstream. Stay tuned to Digital Trends as we update you with more information as it becomes available.

Topics

Michael Archambault

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital marketer located in Long Island, New York. For the past decade…

Computing

Google just gave up on its proposed makeover of the internet

Google Chrome browser running on Android Automotive in a car.

Google announced on Monday that it will pull the brakes on phasing out the use of third-party cookies on its Chrome browser because of concerns from regulators, competitors, and privacy advocates, the tech giant said in a Privacy Sandbox post. Instead, Google will be going in a different direction that will let users choose how they interact with third-party cookies.

Blocking third-party cookies would have presented a hurdle for remarketing, which lets companies serve you ads based on your previous activity around the web.

Computing

Why even Chrome devotees should give the Arc web browser a shot

The Arc web browser running on macOS Ventura, showing an Easel with live snippets listing temperatures in New York and flights there from London.

Google Chrome is one of the best browsers you can get, and its popularity among internet users is absolutely unrivaled. But there’s a new kid on the block called Arc that aims to steal some of Google’s thunder.

We’ve written about it before, and Arc is an intriguing web browser for a whole host of reasons. But should you ditch Chrome for Arc? That’s what we’re hoping to answer in this guide. Here, we’ve compared the two browsers across a range of metrics, from design and features to performance and security. If you’re not sure which browser is best for you, read on to find out.
Design
Arc features a Split View mode that lets you view multiple tabs side-by-side. Alex Blake / Digital Trends

Computing

5 web browsers you should use instead of Google Chrome or Edge

Google Drive in Chrome on a MacBook.

Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge dominate the world of web browsers, but they’re not for everyone. Whether you want a browser that better respects your privacy or need an app that does things a little bit differently, you don’t have to stick to the usual suspects.

There’s a world of alternative web browsers out there if you want to give something new a try. Here, we’ve put together five excellent options, with each one bringing fresh new ideas to the table. So, if you’re sick of Chrome and Edge, take one of these browsers for a spin.
Arc
Easels let you pin live websites snippets, which can update themselves and be interacted with. Alex Blake / Digital Trends