Google is set to enhance its Chrome browser on Android and desktop with a new feature that automatically disables notifications from websites that users tend to ignore, aiming to reduce notification overload and distractions.
This new auto-revocation capability is an expansion of Chrome’s existing Safety Check feature, which already offers similar functionality for revoking camera and location permissions. It also complements an existing Android feature that allows Chrome users to unsubscribe from unwanted website notifications with a single tap, further streamlining the notification management process.
The feature specifically targets sites that send a large volume of notifications but receive little to no engagement from users, disabling permissions for these sites. Notably, it does not affect notifications for web apps installed on a user’s device, ensuring that essential notifications remain unaffected. Google’s data indicates that less than one percent of all web notifications sent through Chrome currently receive any interaction from users, underscoring the potential for this feature to significantly reduce unnecessary notifications.
Google has shared results from testing the feature, stating, “We’ve already been testing this feature. Our test results show a significant reduction in notification overload with only a minimal change in total notification clicks.” The company further noted that “Our experiments also indicate that websites that send a lower volume of notifications are actually seeing an increase in clicks,” suggesting that the feature may help improve the effectiveness of notifications from sites that use them more judiciously.
Chrome users retain control over their notification preferences, with the ability to opt out of the auto-revocation feature entirely. They can also preserve notifications from specific sites by visiting the website to re-enable them or by granting permissions via the Safety Check feature, providing flexibility and customization options. Google has been asked to confirm when the feature will be officially rolled out to users.
