Amolith
/
secluded
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Projects Releases Wiki Activity

expand intentional notifications post

This commit is contained in:
Amolith 2023-03-20 12:17:45 -04:00
parent 75289db380
commit a11442e9b8
Signed by: Amolith
GPG Key ID: 8AE30347CE28D101
1 changed files with 63 additions and 17 deletions
Show Stats Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

80
content/posts/pull-vs-push-intentional-notifications.md
View File

@ -1,11 +1,47 @@
--- ---
title: "Pull vs push: intentional notifications" title: "Pull vs push: intentional notifications"
date: 2023-03-16T17:20:32-04:00 date: 2023-03-20T12:15:00-04:00
draft: true draft: true
toc: true toc: true
categories: ["Technology"]
tags:
- Health
- Internet
- Mindfulness
- Productivity
- Web
--- ---
Some kind of intro here I've recently noticed that many of my peers are sometimes overwhelmed by the
internet; they feel as if they're stretched too thin and that their attention is
constantly shifting between too many different platforms. I think a _portion_ of
that feeling comes from systems that bombard them with push notifications. In
games, this introduces a sense of urgency because you want make the most of your
time and use your "lives" or "energy" or whatever efficiently. With social
media, these reminders tend to incite a fear of missing out (FOMO), making you
feel like you need to open the app to connect with friends and avoid missing
out. With news apps, the notifications are usually click-bait headlines
specifically selected to make you open the app so you can see what's going on.
But most of that isn't _really_ necessary. If something on social media is
genuinely that urgent, it should be a call or an instant message. Social media
can be checked at the end of the day. The same goes for news; if a headline is
really that important, it'll still be there in a couple hours. If a game needs
to remind its players that it exists, it's probably not particularly fun or
memorable.
On Android, when users first open an app, they're often asked to give that app
permission to send notifications. They hit `Allow` without thinking because they
just want to use the app, exactly like what happens when asked to agree to a
privacy policy and terms of service. Most of these apps would be able to fill
their purpose just as well _without_ sending notifications, but we're more
concerned with _using_ the app so we just don't think about it.
On their phones, my peers usually have a list of notifications a mile long, full
of new emails and YouTube videos and Slack messages and "your lives are
restored!" messages from mobile games and so much more. I think reducing that
barrage — on all systems, not just phones — is a great way to start building a
healthier relationship with technology.
## Pushed-based ## Pushed-based
@ -52,7 +88,13 @@ boundaries and being thoughtful with your time is important.
## Pull-based ## Pull-based
With a push-based system, you receive notifications on others' schedules, which
might not line up well with your own. In a pull-based system, you receive
"notifications" on _your_ schedule. You see what happened on social media when
you log in, you receive emails when you explicitly fetch them, you see chat
messages when you open the app, etc. This allows you to decide when you're ready
to interact with that system, whether "ready" is every ten minutes, once you're
in the office, or during breakfast.
## Some suggestions ## Some suggestions
@ -64,32 +106,35 @@ Disable push notifications for YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, etc. Maybe consider
using alternative clients for those services that are more user-respecting in using alternative clients for those services that are more user-respecting in
general. general.
Religiously unsubscribe from everything that clutters up your inbox. If you Religiously unsubscribe from everything that clutters your inbox. If you don't
don't actively want to see it, unsubscribe from it or write a rule that marks it actively want to see it, unsubscribe from it or write a rule that marks it as
as reads and immediately shoves it in your archive. Inboxes are for pertinent, reads and immediately shoves it in your archive. Inboxes are for pertinent,
important information; the latest shoe sale at your preferred big-box store is important information; the latest shoe sale at your preferred big-box store is
neither. neither.
Get an [RSS reader!][rssr] Please! Get a [feed reader!][rssr] Please!
[rssr]: https://wikipedia.org/wiki/News_aggregator [rssr]: https://wikipedia.org/wiki/News_aggregator
They allow you to subscribe to multiple sources of information — like news They allow you to subscribe to multiple sources of information — like news
websites, YouTube channels, blogs, etc. — and aggregate that content into one websites, YouTube channels, blogs, etc. — and aggregate that content into one
place. You can read what you want when you want without having anything thrust place. You can read what you want when you want without having anything thrust
in your face by The Algorithm™. Depending on the reader, you can sort sources in your face. Depending on which feed reader you select, you can also sort
into categories or folders that allow you to focus on one thing at a time rather sources into categories or folders that allow you to focus on one thing at a
than being treated to a firehose of the internet. time, rather than being treated to a firehose of the internet.
If you're looking for a service, check out [Feedbin,][fb] [NewsBlur,][nb] If you're looking for a service, check out [Feedbin,][fb] [NewsBlur,][nb]
[Feeder,][feeder] [Feedly,][fdly] and [Inoreader.][ino] Be thoughtful about [Feeder,][feeder] [Feedly,][fdly] and [Inoreader.][ino] Changelog, a
enabling notifications though. developer-focused podcast, [interviewed the creator of Feedbin][cif] and I quite
enjoyed the episode. Be thoughtful when enabling push notifications in readers
that support it.
[fb]: https://feedbin.com [fb]: https://feedbin.com
[nb]: https://newsblur.com [nb]: https://newsblur.com
[feeder]: https://feeder.co [feeder]: https://feeder.co
[fdly]: https://feedly.com [fdly]: https://feedly.com
[ino]: https://www.inoreader.com [ino]: https://www.inoreader.com
[cif]: https://changelog.com/podcast/240
If you're into self-hosting, I highly recommend [yarr.][yarr] At the time of If you're into self-hosting, I highly recommend [yarr.][yarr] At the time of
writing, I've been using yarr for 6 months and don't see myself switching any writing, I've been using yarr for 6 months and don't see myself switching any
@ -100,11 +145,12 @@ theme.][yarr-theme]
[yarr]: https://github.com/nkanaev/yarr/ [yarr]: https://github.com/nkanaev/yarr/
[yarr-theme]: https://github.com/nkanaev/yarr/issues/46#issuecomment-798896310 [yarr-theme]: https://github.com/nkanaev/yarr/issues/46#issuecomment-798896310
If you do adopt RSS, I strongly recommend migrating your _important_ newsletter If you do adopt a feed reader, whichever it is, I strongly recommend migrating
subscriptions to [_Kill the Newsletter!_][ktn] It generates an email, you your _important_ newsletter subscriptions to [_Kill the Newsletter!_][ktn] The
subscribe to the newsletter with that email address, and it appends each email service generates an email address, you subscribe to the newsletter with that
to a unique RSS feed generated just for you. At the time of writing, I receive 7 email address, and it appends each email to a unique feed generated just for
newsletters as RSS feeds and it's a pleasant experience. you. At the time of writing, I receive 7 newsletters as feeds and it's a
wonderful experience.
[ktn]: https://kill-the-newsletter.com [ktn]: https://kill-the-newsletter.com