Source
r/TrueOffMyChest•
codevil

Fuck websites that ask users to allow desktop notifications

I read plenty of articles online and when I click the link to the full text, the website almost ALWAYS asks me to allow desktop notifications. It's been so annoying since it was invented, but today, I listened to my survival instincts and found that we can actually stop websites from even asking for permission.

  • In Firefox, just search for "notifications" in the Preferences tab, click Settings, and check the option "Block new requests asking to allow notifications".

  • In Chrome, search for and click "Content Settings", click on Notifications, and toggle the switch on the option "Ask before sending (recommended)" so that it turns to "Blocked".

  • In Safari, go to Safari menu > Preferences > Websites > Notifications, and uncheck the box that says "Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications".

Fuck you, web developers. You think you're the rockstars of the 21st century, innovating by rewriting everything in reactive JavaScript and making the world a better place with mere strokes on a keyboard. The truth of your industry is that the most wide-reaching websites built in the last decade have done nothing but to divide people's attention, damage people's mental health, distort the truth, normalize prejudice, and steal people's sensitive personal information for ad money. So no, fuck your W3C-compliant Push API notifications, and may the specification fall into oblivion with all other web APIs you are yet to abuse in the future.

Posted Mar 6, 2019, 5:01 PM UTC

206
Okay_Splenda_Monkey•

This is indeed one of the worst things happening on the Internet right now. Web sites with autoplaying audio or video are worse, but only a little bit. Thanks for the tip about how to disable it in the browser.

3
habibexpress•

It ain’t the developers fault bro. That’s like you swearing at the cashier at maccas because maccas got rid of your favourite drink/feed.

1
codevilOP•

Web devs don’t always call the shots on product design but it’s not as if web devs don’t peddle the feature as a way to compete with mobile apps, push for PWAs, and enhance their job security.

This isn’t so much about blaming them, even—just calling out the hype around the profession and the messianic complex so common in it.

1
habibexpress•

Hmmm I think it’s more so about content-engagement and how all companies want it engage customers with their shit. This is one way to get them. Also dev would have sold the idea because the head guy wanted that notifications feature they saw on reddit... reddit does it too.

1
codevilOP•

Yes. The reason why these APIs are being pushed for are really to imitate the functionality of mobile OSes, which (obviously) have access to native device APIs. The value proposition of a web app is “write once, run anywhere”.

1
xxelinaxx•

thank you!

1