Web Desk: A new global survey reveals that many smartphone users are increasingly disabling news notifications, citing notification fatigue as a primary reason.
According to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, 79% of respondents typically do not receive news alerts in a given week. Among these, 43% have actively turned off such notifications altogether.
The report indicates that users often disable alerts because they feel overwhelmed by the volume or find them unhelpful. Nic Newman, the lead researcher, noted, “Publishers are navigating a delicate balance when sending news alerts.
They tend to limit the number and carefully choose the timing and content of notifications to avoid annoyance.”
The study also highlights a significant rise in the prevalence of news alerts over the past decade. For instance, in the United States, the percentage of people receiving weekly notifications increased from 6% in 2014 to 23% today.
Similarly, in the United Kingdom, figures rose from 3% to 18% during the same period.
Many consumers report feeling inundated by various mobile notifications—not just news alerts, but also sports scores, calendar reminders, messaging group notifications, and social media alerts—leading to widespread notification fatigue.
