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Hacker News users bypass censorship with /active endpoint

Hacker News: Front Page •
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A Hacker News user is sharing a Chrome workaround to bypass the site's default /news feed, which they claim is subject to user-triggered censorship. The method involves training the browser's address bar to autocomplete to /active instead of /news. This alternative endpoint ranks stories by recent activity, ignoring upvotes and flags that can suppress content on the main page.

The technique involves manually deleting unwanted autocomplete entries until the browser consistently suggests the desired URL. This highlights a growing tension between Hacker News' community moderation model and user perception of editorial control. The /active feed serves as a raw, unfiltered view of discussion, which some users prefer when they feel stories are being prematurely buried.

While a bookmark would be simpler, the browser training method ensures the shortcut works every time. The debate in the comments reveals differing views on moderation, with some defending flagging as a necessary tool and others seeing it as censorship. This user-driven tweak shows how power users adapt platforms to their workflow, often forcing conversations about platform governance.