Choosing keywords that actually catch spoilers
Which words to block so spoilers get caught without blurring half the internet, and why character names work better than show titles.
· · 3 min read
The trade-off you're managing
Every keyword you add makes two things more likely: catching a spoiler, and blurring something harmless. Good keywords catch a lot and blur little.
The mistake most people make is adding only the show title. Almost nobody posting a spoiler names the show.
Start with these four types
Character names. The strongest single category. A post saying "I can't believe they killed her off" names the character far more often than the series.
Actor names. Casting news and interviews spoil constantly, and they're indexed under the actor.
Episode and season markers. "S03E07", "season 3 finale", "episode 8". People label discussion threads this way.
Spoiler-shaped phrases. "ending explained", "post credit", "dies in", "that scene", "the twist". These are how thumbnails and headlines are written, and they rarely name anything.
Use phrases, not single words
Multi-word blocking means a phrase matches as a phrase. That's the difference between a usable filter and an unusable one.
| Instead of | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
finale | season 3 finale | Otherwise every article about any finale blurs |
dies | dies in episode | "Dies" alone hits obituaries and news |
ending | ending explained | "Ending" is far too common on its own |
Single words are fine when they're distinctive. A character called "Kilmonger" needs no phrase. A character called "Ben" absolutely does.
Add words in the right order
Add the specific ones first, browse for a day, then add the vaguer ones only if something gets through. Starting broad and narrowing is frustrating, because you spend the first day looking at a blurred internet and can't tell which keyword caused it.
Words worth avoiding
Some keywords cost more than they're worth:
- Very common words. "Season", "episode", "trailer", "new". These blur constantly and catch little.
- Your own name, or a friend's. Sounds obvious, matters if you follow people who share a name with a character.
- Words in the site's own furniture. Blocking "watch" will blur navigation on a streaming site and make the page hard to use.
Keep it a living list
Add keywords as a season goes on. New characters arrive, and the phrases people use shift once a twist lands. The list you set in week one is rarely right by week six.
When you've caught up, clear the list for that show so the rest of the internet un-blurs.