It’s not just you: Social media notifications are out of control

February 11, 2024

By Kim Komando

Here’s something social media companies don’t want you to know: They’ve been making changes so they can make more money. One way is by amping up the number of notifications pushed out to users.

For example, your Instagram account received up to 12 more notifications this past January than last July. Fortunately, you can opt-out. I’ve got you covered.

Quit nudging me

Back in the day, notifications were for important stuff — a direct message or a mention in someone’s post. Today, social media platforms nudge you for the not-so-important stuff.

The reason is simple: We all engage with social media less these days. To get people back onto the platforms, they have to do more, and notifications seem to do the trick.

Don’t take it personally

There’s a shift toward making alerts and notifications more generic, like a news feed. This draws you back into doom scrolling the day away, even if you haven’t posted or interacted with other users in a while. Even if you don’t click on them, they’re still popping up, and you may eventually cave. 

Take steps to nip notifications in the bud

A few minutes of more peace and quiet and less scrolling? Yes, please.

• Facebook: Go to More > Settings & privacy > Settings > Notifications. Scroll through the list of categories and toggle the switches off.

If you want to turn off notifications from a specific account, click the three dots next to one of their posts. Then, click “Turn off these notifications.”

• Instagram: Click your Profile, then the three-line hamburger menu. Then, Settings and Privacy > Notifications. Customize to your heart’s content. Don’t miss this: Under “Posts, stories, and comments,” scroll through the options and select off.

• X: Click the bell icon near the bottom. Then, Settings > Filters > Muted notifications. 

• LinkedIn: Under Settings, click Notifications to curate what you see. To limit notifications from specific accounts (like your annoying old boss), click the three dots on a person’s post and choose “Turn off this notification type.”

Social media is fun, but you can’t let it control your life. Silencing notifications is one way. I hope this helped you out.

🐔 I’m thinking of starting a social media network for chickens. Not as a full-time job, just a way to make hens meet.