Facebook has revealed a brand new tool for app developers called "Notifications API", which will let users get even more notifications.
The new feature makes it possible for apps to send users notifications in the form of small, modified messages. Moreover, developers would not have to worry about asking for any additional permission to do so.
As with other notifications, users will have the option to opt out once they start receiving messages. Apart from turning off notifications, users can also report spam and the apps that receive too many complaints may be disabled.
Although this new tool may eventually lead to several app spam mesages in the user's notifications menu, Facebook has urged developers to exercise restraint.
"We encourage you to test and monitor how your notifications are performing. The new Notifications dashboard in Insights shows feedback on notifications sent via this API, including information on turn-off rates," the FB developer's page states. "Apps with exceedingly high turn off rates for notifications may be classified as spam and disabled. You should watch Insights closely to make sure your notifications are well received by users and not in danger of being shut-off."
Nonetheless, it is important to note that all notifications from an app are treated the same way, independent of how it was sent either via this API or as a user-to-user request. Additionally, users will not see a first receipt prompt for invites (i.e. they have not authorized the app and a friend is simply inviting them to try it out).
