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This has been going on for quite a while now. AFAIK you can still disable pocket

You can use the Blank New Tab Add-on - I've been using it since setting my 'home page' to about:blank stopped working.

I use the extension momentum to display a nice image. There are many alternative extensions for the new tab background.

Fortunately, you can turn it off if you don't like it.

There will be a day where the option to remove it will be gone.

When did they say that?

Then disable it in the Settings => Home.

Just turn off pocket in about:config.

Why do I have to opt-out of this? This should be opt-in.

You can also click the > arrow next to "Recommended by Pocket" to close it, it will stay closed when you open new tabs.