Last year, on his birthday, the author took a car trip to a beautiful area of New York state. Despite the lovely spring day and the birds migrating overhead, the purpose of the trip was to attend the funeral of his best friend. He took photos of friends, local landmarks, and his friend’s former home, knowing it would be his last visit there. A year later, Google sent a notification inviting him to revisit the memories of that day, which he found to be a painful reminder rather than a joyous one. To avoid unwanted memory notifications from Google Photos, Apple Photos, Facebook, and Microsoft OneDrive, one can adjust settings to stop specific memory notifications or prevent them altogether.
In Google Photos, users can tweak settings on the desktop or mobile app to avoid specific memories. This can include hiding dates or specific people/pets to prevent them from appearing in memories notifications. Disabling time-based memories or themed memories can also help stop pop-up notifications. Similarly, the Apple Photos app on iPhones offers various ways to reduce or stop memories of specific people or events from appearing, as well as turning off holiday event or featured content notifications entirely.
For Facebook users, it is possible to stop memories from appearing completely using the desktop or mobile app. By selecting the appropriate options in the Memories section of the settings, users can prevent memories of specific people, dates, or keywords from popping up. Similarly, Microsoft’s OneDrive Memories feature can be turned off easily by adjusting the notifications settings on the web or mobile app. Users can uncheck the box for “On this day memories are available” to prevent these notifications from appearing.
Overall, the ability to control and manage unwanted memories notifications across different apps and platforms can help users avoid emotional triggers or reminders that may cause distress. By adjusting settings to hide specific memories or turning off notifications altogether, individuals can curate their online experiences to focus on positive and meaningful content. As technology continues to evolve, it is essential for users to have the option to customize their digital environment to support their emotional well-being and mental health.