On Facebook, "push" primarily refers to push notifications, which are alerts sent to your mobile device even when you are not actively using the Facebook app.
Understanding Push Notifications
When you download the Facebook app to your mobile device, it enables the delivery of two main types of mobile notifications:
- Push Notifications: These are notifications sent when you're not actively using Facebook. A common example is an alert appearing on your device's lock screen or in your notification bar, informing you about an update.
- In-App Notifications: These are notifications sent when you're actively using Facebook. They typically appear within the app itself, often in the notification tab or as a red badge on an icon.
The term "push" highlights that the server pushes the information to your device without you having to open the app or actively request it.
How Push Notifications Work
Push notifications are a crucial feature for keeping users engaged and informed without needing to constantly check the app. Here's a simplified breakdown:
- Event Occurs: Something happens on Facebook that's relevant to you (e.g., a friend requests to connect, someone comments on your post, a live video starts).
- Server Sends: Facebook's servers send a notification message to a push notification service (like Apple Push Notification service for iOS or Firebase Cloud Messaging for Android).
- Device Receives: This service then "pushes" the notification directly to your device.
- User Alerted: Your device displays the alert, even if the Facebook app is closed or running in the background.
Common Examples of Push Notifications
Push notifications cover a wide range of activities to ensure you stay updated:
- Friend Activity:
- New friend requests
- Friends celebrating birthdays
- When friends go live
- Interaction on Your Posts:
- Someone comments on your post
- Someone reacts to your post
- Someone shares your post
- Messages:
- New messages in Messenger
- Message requests
- Group Activity:
- New posts in groups you follow
- Comments on group posts you've interacted with
- Events and Pages:
- Reminders for events you're interested in
- Updates from Pages you follow
Push Notifications vs. In-App Notifications
To clarify the distinction, here's a quick comparison:
| Feature | Push Notifications | In-App Notifications |
|---|---|---|
| When Sent | When you are not actively using Facebook | When you are actively using Facebook |
| Visibility | Device lock screen, notification bar, notification center | Within the Facebook app (e.g., "Notifications" tab, red badges) |
| Purpose | To alert you to new activity outside the app | To show you new activity inside the app |
| Example Scenario | A friend tags you while your phone is locked | You're scrolling your feed and see a red dot on the bell icon |
Managing Your Push Notifications
Facebook provides robust settings to customize which push notifications you receive, helping you control potential distractions while staying informed about what matters most. You can typically adjust these settings by:
- Opening the Facebook app.
- Navigating to Settings & Privacy.
- Selecting Settings.
- Tapping on Notifications.
- From here, you can select specific categories (e.g., Comments, Friend Requests, Tags) and choose how you want to be notified for each (Push, Email, SMS, or In-App).
This level of control ensures that "push" on Facebook enhances your experience without overwhelming you.
