Push notifications are out of control.

This should not be possible.

Behold, a Notification Center full only of spam push notifications.

Each of these apps needs push notifications for a legitimate reason because of how the app is designed to work. Uber to let me know when my ride arrives, the fast food to let me know when my order is ready (don’t judge me), and the financial app in this case to notify of potential financial crime in progress. Basically, I have to allow these apps to give notifications if I want the benefit of the app.

But I do not consent to push notifications being used for marketing like this.

Apple should give the consumer greater control here. I should be able to select not just when and how I receive notifications at all, but what sorts of events they can be used for. and “you haven’t spent money with us in a while” should be something that I as a consumer am allowed to opt out of.

Apple has been a leader in consumer privacy and giving users control of permissions within apps, but they haven’t gone nearly far enough. Similarly, Apple has yet to give granular control of app access to some other important system functions, like audio output (various apps interrupt music or similar content to internet unwanted sound effects) and internet access, not just cellular but altogether.

As inconvenient as many consumers find it, I think that each major API in the operating system should have a granular user control, even if it’s hidden behind two layers of “advanced options” to not clutter the interface for users who don’t care.

Yes, this would interfere with the business strategies of many of these companies. Good. It should. They are all collectively out of their place and “forget” the idea that consumers should have all of the control, not companies.