What Apple and Google are doing to push notifications (jacquescorbytuech.com)

Article summary

The article discusses how Apple and Google are changing the way push notifications work, with a focus on giving users more control over what notifications they receive and when. The companies are using on-device models to summarize, reorder, and rewrite notifications, which can make it harder for marketers to reach their target audience. This shift is similar to what happened with email, where providers like Gmail and Yahoo began to filter and categorize messages, making it harder for senders to get their messages through. The article suggests that this trend is likely to continue, with push notifications becoming more intermediated and controlled by the platforms.

Main themes

• Push notification evolution
• Platform control
• User experience
• Marketing and advertising
• Technological intermediation
• Data privacy

What commenters say

• The intermediation of push notifications by Apple and Google is a necessary step to protect users from spam and unwanted messages.
• Marketers are upset about the loss of control over push notifications, but this change is ultimately beneficial for users who want to avoid unwanted messages.
• The current system of push notifications is broken, and users should have more control over what they receive, including the ability to mark notifications as spam.
• The trend towards intermediation of push notifications is part of a larger pattern of big tech companies controlling the flow of information and limiting the ability of users to opt out.
• Users are not necessarily aware of the extent to which their notifications are being controlled and filtered by Apple and Google, and this lack of transparency is a concern.
• The ability to customize and control notifications is a key aspect of the user experience, and companies like Apple and Google should prioritize user needs over marketer interests.
• The rise of on-device models for summarizing and filtering notifications is a positive development, as it allows for more efficient and effective management of notifications.
• The article's focus on the marketer's perspective overlooks the fact that push notifications are primarily a tool for users, and should be designed with their needs and preferences in mind.