What are Push Notifications in Facebook and How They Work

What are push notifications in Facebook? They are alerts sent to users' devices when they are not actively using the app or when their phone is locked. These notifications serve to inform users about various activities on Facebook that may interest them, ensuring they do not miss important updates.

Table of content

Understanding Push Notifications

Push notifications are a vital feature of Facebook, designed to keep users engaged with the platform. They provide real-time updates about interactions and activities, such as comments, messages, livestreams, and friend requests. By sending these alerts, Facebook ensures that users remain connected to their social network, even when they are not actively browsing the app.

Types of Notifications

Users can receive a variety of notifications on Facebook, including:

Comments: Alerts for comments and replies to your posts.
Tags: Notifications when someone tags you in a post or comment.
Reminders: Updates on any Facebook activities you may have missed.
More Activity About You: Notifications for timeline posts, likes on your posts, etc.
Updates from Friends: Alerts when friends update their statuses or share photos.
Friend Requests: Notifications for incoming friend requests or accepted requests.
People You May Know: Suggestions for potential friends based on mutual connections.
Birthdays: Alerts for friends' birthdays.
Groups: Notifications for posts in groups you are a member of.
Videos: Alerts when followed pages or people go live.
Events: Updates and reminders about events of interest.
Pages You Follow: Notifications about activities on followed pages.
Marketplace: Alerts for items for sale that may interest you.
Fundraisers and Crisis: Notifications related to friends' safety, fundraisers, and donations.
Other Notifications: Includes app requests, expiring offers, and nearby restaurant alerts.

Customizing Notification Settings

To customize which notifications are received, users can navigate to the Notifications Settings within the Facebook app or website. Users can access Notifications Settings by signing into Facebook, selecting the down arrow on Facebook.com, or tapping the three lines in the mobile app. The path to adjust notification settings includes selecting Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and finally Notifications.

Managing Notification Preferences

Under Notifications, users can see a list of different types of notifications they can receive. Each notification type can be adjusted to have its Push setting turned On or Off. Users can turn off notifications they do not wish to receive by setting the Allow Notifications on Facebook option to Off for specific notifications. However, some notifications, like Comments, Tags, and Friend Requests, do not have the option to be turned off. Additionally, users can delete notifications they receive on Facebook.

Browser Push Notifications

For browser users (Firefox or Google Chrome), Facebook allows push notifications to be enabled or disabled through browser settings. To adjust browser push notifications, users navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Notifications > How You Get Notifications > Browser. Users can turn browser push notifications On or Off or select Mute Notifications to disable them.

Adjusting Sound Settings

Users can modify sound settings for push notifications to enable or disable sounds when notifications are received. This feature allows users to tailor their notification experience according to their preferences.

Mobile App Notification Settings

On the mobile app, users can similarly adjust their push notification settings to ensure they receive the alerts that matter most to them. This customization enhances the overall user experience on Facebook, allowing for a more personalized interaction with the platform.