Study Finds Smartphone Users Are Turning Off News Alerts Amid Notification Fatigue
A growing number of smartphone users are choosing to silence news alerts, citing fatigue and frustration with the volume and perceived irrelevance of the notifications, a new global report has revealed.
According to the latest Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, nearly four in five people (79%) say they do not receive any news alerts in a typical week. Of those, 43% say they actively turned off the notifications.
The report, released on Tuesday, attributes this trend to an overwhelming volume of mobile notifications – not just from news publishers, but also from messaging apps, calendar reminders, sports updates, and social media platforms.
“Many consumers are overwhelmed by the sheer number of mobile notifications they receive,” said Nic Newman, lead author of the report. “This includes multiple alerts on the same story, which can lead to frustration and disengagement.”
Although news alerts have become more common in the last decade, especially in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, the increase has not necessarily translated to higher user satisfaction. In the US, the number of people receiving weekly news alerts has jumped from 6% in 2014 to 23% in 2024. The UK saw a similar rise from 3% to 18% over the same period.
In both countries, users often cited concerns about duplicated content and overly dramatic headlines. The study found that news aggregators like Google News and Apple News, which are among the most widely used apps for alerts, sometimes bombard users with multiple notifications about the same event.
In the US, 16% of respondents said they received at least one alert from CNN in the past week, followed by Google News at 13% and Fox News at 11%.
While publishers see alerts as a key way to drive engagement and keep audiences informed in real-time, the study notes that many now tread carefully when sending them out. Most media outlets have internal guidelines on the number of alerts they issue each day, the tone of the messaging, and the timing.
“Alerts are a valuable tool when used sparingly and thoughtfully,” Newman added. “They’re most effective when they help users stay informed and offer useful context – not when they’re repetitive or feel like clickbait.”
The findings suggest that as digital publishers refine their mobile strategies, striking the right balance between visibility and value will be crucial to maintaining user trust and interest.
