Rethink your notifications

Get your notifications in order

Plus: Samsung’s new phones, roll your own ringtones, and simple YouTube downloads.

Jared Newman

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January 23, 2024

Here’s the truth about the notifications on your phone: Most of them aren’t there to serve you.

While the ostensible purpose of notifications is to make sure you don’t miss anything important, too often they serve a different purpose, such as helping a company meet its engagement goals or upselling you on additional services. Even the notifications you do care about can be a distraction if they appear at the wrong time, or in the wrong way.