Many people with specific phobias—like fear of spiders, bees, or tight spaces—experience anxiety or panic when unexpectedly encountering triggering images online. While some platforms offer content warnings, there’s no universal tool to preemptively blur or hide such images across all websites. This gap leaves users vulnerable to involuntary exposure, particularly on social media or image-heavy platforms.

How It Could Work

A browser extension could automatically detect and blur images containing phobia triggers. Users could customize settings to select which phobias to account for (e.g., arachnophobia or claustrophobia). The tool might combine:

• Image recognition to identify common triggers (e.g., spiders or crowded spaces).
• Keyword filtering to blur images tagged with terms like "spider" or "honeycomb."
• User feedback to improve accuracy by allowing manual flagging of missed images.

Blurred images could include an optional "reveal" button for users who want to view the content despite their phobia.

Potential Benefits and Challenges

The tool could help individuals with phobias browse the web more comfortably, while mental health advocates might recommend it as a coping aid. However, balancing accuracy and performance is critical. For example:

• Starting with keyword filtering could minimize false positives, while lightweight AI (like TensorFlow.js) could later detect untagged triggers.
• A "lite mode" might reduce processing lag on image-heavy sites.

Standing Out From Existing Tools

Unlike ad blockers or adult-content filters, this idea focuses specifically on phobias, offering customizable settings for individual needs. While niche scripts (like NoMoreSpiders) exist for single phobias, this tool could cover a broader range of triggers and work automatically across all websites.

An MVP might begin with keyword-based blurring and expand based on user feedback, gradually integrating more advanced features like image recognition.