Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us is creeping toward us like a stealthy infected, and with it comes the grand return of heartbreak, fungi, and yes—spoilers the size of bloater bosses. If you’re one of the brave few who haven’t played the original games and want to keep it that way, welcome. You’re among the endangered: the spoiler-sensitive.
The internet is a battlefield, and trust us, it’s full of traps. One click too many and BAM—a plot twist you never saw coming. But don’t panic. We’ve cobbled together a survivor’s guide, complete with witty commentary and some actually useful advice, to help you dodge those digital landmines and make it to each new episode unspoiled.
Muting Keywords on Twitter: Lock Down the Feed
First up, let’s talk Twitter—or X, if you’re feeling formal. This platform thrives on reactions, which means spoilers are everywhere just minutes after an episode airs. Your best weapon? The mute feature.
Here’s how to seal the cracks:
- Head to Settings and privacy from the sidebar menu.
- Dive into Privacy and safety > Mute and block > Muted words.
- Add terms like “The Last of Us,” “Joel,” “Ellie,” “Abby,” and even hashtags like #TLOU or #TheLastOfUs.
- Set them to mute forever. Yes, forever. No shame in long-term protection.
Muting won’t hide everything, but it will do a surprisingly solid job of keeping the worst offenders at bay.
YouTube Comments: The Spoiler Swamp
YouTube seems innocent enough, right? You go in for a trailer, maybe a cast interview, and next thing you know—WHAM. The comment section hits you with a spoiler-laced sledgehammer.
Even videos that seem harmless can hide traitorous timestamps or all-caps rants. So unless you enjoy pain, don’t scroll. Watch what you came for and bounce. If a thumbnail has a suspiciously emotional face and the word “ENDING” in the title, consider it radioactive.
Think of it like this: Treat any Last of Us TikTok or YouTube video like it’s a clicker. If it gets too close, you’re done.
Reddit: Proceed With Caution (Or Not at All)
Reddit is a beautiful mess. And while some subs manage spoiler content well, others leak like a sieve. That said, it depends where you roam.
For casual viewers:
- Avoid r/thelastofus entirely. That place is a lore-lover’s paradise, but it’s also a graveyard of surprises.
- Even r/television can be sketchy post-episode.
Now, Reddit doesn’t let you mute words natively. So if you’re browsing on desktop or Android, consider using third-party apps. On iOS, Apollo for Reddit lets you filter words and user posts, creating a slightly safer scrolling experience.
Stay Far, Far Away from Fan Wikis
Fan wikis are temptation incarnate. One quick character lookup and suddenly you know everything about their tragic backstory, their unresolved daddy issues, and their exact episode death.
Don’t do it. Don’t even glance. Fan wikis might as well be titled “How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Shock Reveal in 1.5 Seconds.”
Browser Extensions: A Cloak of Invisibility
Now for some digital wizardry. If you’re a Chrome user, install Spoiler Protection 2.0. It’s like putting on blinders for the web.
This extension blocks out specific keywords and even blurs out images or video thumbnails tied to your spoiler list. You can tailor it to your heart’s content. Want to black out any mention of mushrooms? You got it.
Another option is Unspoiler (also for Chrome), which hides headlines and social posts before they destroy your innocence.
Time to Ghost the Internet (Temporarily)
Okay, this one’s dramatic, but it works. If an episode just dropped and you can’t watch it immediately, consider disappearing for a while. Not forever. Just until you’ve seen it.
Log out. Go analog. Touch grass. Or, if that sounds extreme, at least avoid apps like TikTok and Instagram—especially their Reels sections. Algorithms don’t care if you’re spoiler-averse. They just care about engagement.
Speak Your Truth to Friends
Seriously, tell your friends. Let them know you’re on spoiler lockdown. Most people, even the worst chatterboxes, will respect a heads-up.
Just be clear. Say something like: “Please don’t talk Last of Us around me until I’m caught up. I want the full emotional gut-punch experience.”
And if they still ruin things? That’s not a friend—that’s a digital bloater. Reconsider the relationship.
Keep Your Notifications in Check
Sometimes spoilers sneak in through the back door. You’re minding your business and suddenly a push notification pops up: “OMG, did you SEE what happened to Ellie?!”
To prevent this:
- On Twitter/X, go to Notifications > Filters and toggle on Mute notifications from people you don’t follow.
- On Instagram, disable push alerts for new posts and stories from tagged accounts related to the show.
- Consider snoozing certain group chats temporarily. Yes, even the one titled “Fungal Frenzy Fridays.”
Podcasts, Newsletters, and the Media Minefield
Yes, even trusted sources sometimes slip. A podcast might promise a spoiler-free take and still drop a big one three minutes in. Headlines can ruin weeks of suspense.
So vet your sources. Look for spoiler tags. Avoid clickbait headlines that scream about “Episode 3’s Shocking Death.” We’re not naming names, but you know the type.
Wait a few days before tuning into think-pieces or recap episodes. The internet will still be there.
The Art of Mindful Browsing
Ultimately, this all boils down to mindful browsing. Slow down. Think before you click. Ask yourself: Do I really need to see this meme right now?
Stay skeptical of thumbnails. Be suspicious of vague tweets with crying emojis. And for the love of Cordyceps, if someone starts a sentence with “I can’t believe they did that to—”—RUN.
Spoiler-Free and Loving It
Dodging spoilers in 2025 is a full-time job, but it’s not impossible. And honestly, the payoff is worth it.
That jaw-dropping twist? That moment you scream at your TV like it owes you money? That’s the reward. That’s why we dodge, duck, mute, and ghost.
So stay alert. Stay unspoiled. And enjoy The Last of Us Season 2 the way it was meant to be experienced: with fresh eyes, a full heart, and maybe a box of tissues nearby.
Good luck out there, survivor. The internet is dark and full of spoilers—but now, you’re ready for them.
