Table of Contents
Many people get news alerts on their phones. These alerts tell them about important news quickly.
But there is a problem. It is called “alert fatigue.” Some people get 50 news messages every day. This can be bad.
News apps like Apple News and Google News make this problem bigger. They get news from many places. So, you can get many messages about the same news story.
About 43% of people choose to stop using news alerts. They said the messages came too often or were not interesting.
But, more people use news alerts these days.
News companies have a hard job. They need to send important news. But they should not send too many messages.
Some news companies send more messages than others. The New York Times sends about 10 alerts a day. CNN Indonesia sends up to 50 a day.
Nic Newman is studying this. He says companies must be careful. If they send too many messages, people might delete their app. He says people get tired of too much news. They do not want news all the time.
Vocabulary
- Alert – A signal or notification that something needs attention; A message that tells you something important
- Fatigue – The feeling of being very tired
- Message – Words sent from one person to another
- App (application) – computer software/program, especially for smartphones and tablets
- Choose – to decide; to pick; to pick out;
- Often – Happening many times
- These days – Now; currently; in the present
- Study – to learn more; to research; to check carefully
- Delete – To remove or erase something completely
- Get tired of – To not like something anymore because you have too much of it
- All the time – happening again and again
Discussion Questions
- Do you get news alerts on your phone? How many do you get each day?
- Do you think getting many news alerts is a problem? Why or why not?
- What are the benefits of getting news alerts? What are the disadvantages?
- Do you think news companies should send fewer alerts? Why is this important?
- Have you ever stopped getting news alerts? Why did you stop?
- What kind of news do you want to get alerts for?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Many _____ get news alerts on their phones. These alerts tell them about important _____ quickly.
But there is a _____ . It is called “alert fatigue.” Some people get 50 news messages _____ day. This can be bad.
News _____ like Apple News and Google News make this problem _____ . They get news from many places. So, you can get many _____ about the same news story.
About _____ % of people choose to stop using news alerts. They _____ the messages came too often or were not interesting.
But, _____ people use news alerts these days.
News companies _____ a hard job. They need to send important news. But they _____ not send too many messages.
Some news _____ send more messages than others. The New York Times _____ about 10 alerts a day. CNN Indonesia sends up to _____ a day.
Nic Newman is _____ this. He says companies must be careful. If they send _____ many messages, people might delete their app. _____ says people get tired of too much news. They _____ not want news all the time.
