Enable filtering/downranking based on paywall status

JR

Hello.

The new paywall indicator icon is excellent and very welcome, but it would be good if the presence of a paywall was something that could be used to downrank/block results.

It could be an option in the 'Personalized Results' screen where paywalled could be raised/lowered/blocked.
Additionally, it'd be good if it was a Lense option, either pre-made or an option when you're making your own Lense.

By blocking or lowering (or raising, if you're freaky like that) paywalled content, it would allow further personalisation of results in the same way that current personalised results allow the user fine-grained control over the content they do or don't want to see.

Vlad

It could be an option in the 'Personalized Results' screen where paywalled could be raised/lowered/blocked.

Can you describe what would this look like from UI standpoint?

JR

There could be a prefilled entry in the 'Personalized Results' page. A default entry that everyone sees, and in the place of a domain for that entry, it could say 'Paywalled content' and the entry should be set to normal by default. Then, using the same UX as is currently the case for domains, the user could lower/block those results based on the selection from the dropdown menu.

Really, it'd work just like domain priority works now, except that unlike domain priority, this entry would cover all paywalled content, regardless of the domain it comes from.

thombles

I want this feature but I'm not sure how much I'd use fine-grained preferences. My basic desire is to block all paywalled results (or something that is likely to hit me with a signup or paywall block). I suppose if I did have a NY Times account then it would be neat if I could create a domain exception but that's not a problem I have today.

That is, an On/Off toggle under Search would be a wonderful starting point.

Vlad

thombles Can you expand on your UX/UI approach?

thombles

Vlad To be more precise... (I'm no UX person but I'll have a go)

Simple Approach

A new pane at the top or bottom of Personalized Results which has a toggle switch, the same style as the toggle switches in the Search settings.

Include Paywalled Results
Whether or not sites known to have paywalls will be included in results.
This includes sites that may require payment or creating an account to view the page.
ON (by default)

(Originally I suggested a new toggle under Search, but after having another look, that page is really about widgets, not search results.)

Additional Flexibility

Underneath the toggle switch add a table with a title, similar to the one already on Personalized Results.

Explanatory title:

If you have an account on a paywalled website, add it to this list. Results from these domains will be included as normal even if Include Paywalled Results is switched off.

Table format:

Domain | Date and Time |
nytimes.com | Dec 09 2023, 17:23:20 | X (delete)

ahabkapitany

I found Kagi 15 minutes ago. The fist thing I noticed is how awesome it is that it warns you of registration walls/paywalls. My immediate next step was to look for a filter in settings.

There are a couple of things that make the internet (and thus google searches) terrible. On top of that list are paywalls/registration walls, closely followed by the endless sea of content marketing articles that regurgitate the same information and dilute the web. But I digress.

The option to hide likely paywall results would be awesome. For those who want to whitelist a few, there can be a simple option. I added a sketch of such a setting appended to the end of the list.

Seth

So I've been using Kagi now for five to six months and am really enjoying its value. With many searches I have noticed that results will show for a website if it has many trackers or is behind a paywall. I'm wondering if that could perhaps go further and that there could be an option for users to have their search results to not show websites that include a paywall, that have so many of the trackers or to remove both kinds. Is that possible for you to include into Kagi?

It would allow users to have types of websites that Kagi already alerts users about to not even come up in website results if they would prefer to exclude them.

Naymul

I want this feature. Even though I bypass all paywalls using Brave filters, I would rather just not view websites that are behind paywalls in the first place. Since I am not paying them for the content they generate, it feels a bit like stealing - even though it isn't.

Seth

Has there been any progress on this as a possible feature by Kagi?