If you’re one of the millions of Strava users who thought their app glitched on Tuesday after an avalanche of push notifications from people you forgot you followed, rest assured: your app is not broken. On Tuesday, Strava rolled out a new update featuring “Friends Activities,” a notification feature that alerts you every time someone you follow completes an activity.
From runs and rides to swims and walks, Strava is eager to notify you every time your connections move. Cue the flurry of notifications like: “Your friend just finished a ride!”, “Your friend just completed a run!”, or “Your friend crossed the street!” And don’t forget to give Kudos!
According to Strava, the update was introduced to foster greater connection among its users and encourage more interactions through “Kudos”—the app’s version of a digital high-five. While the update was praised with good intentions, users have reacted negatively to it, finding the sheer volume of notifications overwhelming.
While it’s great to celebrate your friends’ accomplishments, not everyone appreciates their phone lighting up with 20+ alerts (especially those who follow triathletes, who log multiple activities a day). It didn’t take long for Strava users to take to X (formerly Twitter), with many questioning whether the app was broken or why they were suddenly bombarded with updates. Strava Support responded, advising users to adjust their notifications settings to regain control.
Love #strava but why is it telling me every man and his dog has gone for a run all of a sudden
— Sam (@SATempest) November 19, 2024
How to turn off “friend” notifications
- Open the Strava app.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Go to Push Notifications.
- Under Friends, toggle off Friends Activities.
You’ll thank us later.
