Month: February 2018

The IFTTT iOS app was updated earlier today with support for rich notifications. In addition to a custom title and image, these rich notifications also support a custom URL that can be opened when a notification is actioned. For example, an applet that notifies you of a new GitHub issue can now include that issue’s URL. Tapping the View button in the notification would then open that URL in Safari.

It’s also possible to use app URL schemes in notification URLs, so that tapping a notification opens an iOS app—even passing information into it. I created a simple applet, triggered by a button in the IFTTT widget, that sent a rich notification using the new URL scheme of Things as its URL. This URL simply created a new task in my Things inbox, and included some of the default ingredients as the task’s note.

IFTTT automatically URL encodes any information passed as an ingredient, though any manually written text must first be URL encoded.

This update narrows the gap between IFTTT and native apps with URL schemes. We’re still a long way off an end-to-end solution, since these URL actions can only be triggered when a notification is actioned, and I’m not quite sure how I might use this yet. However, it’s still an interesting new way to leverage IFTTT in more apps.

It’s been just over a month since I left Twitter. I did this for the sake of my well-being and happiness, and because I no longer wanted to use a service that allows so much abuse and does so little to stop it.

Twitter had become an inescapable deluge of abuse, anger, bad news, and disinformation, and I was barely treading water. I would wake up each morning filled with anxiety and trepidation about what to expect on Twitter during the day; a constant distraction that was mentally and physically exhausting, and making my life miserable.

The platform also brings out the worst in people because the worst people know they can get away with it. The amount of abuse and harassment on Twitter is overwhelming, and you don’t have to look far to see just how toxic it is. The company is well aware of this but doesn’t have the courage to take real action. Twitter would much rather work on features to increase revenue and user count than provide existing users with even the most basic tooling and support to deal with abuse.

Quitting Twitter has been a genuine quality of life improvement for me. It’s as though a dark, heavy cloud of negativity has lifted, and I no longer get worked up about whatever might be the trending shitstorm du jour. I feel more focused and positive, and generally in much better mental health.

This decision has also boosted my productivity as I have a lot more free time now. I estimate I would check Twitter a few times an hour, a couple minutes each time. On a daily basis, I was probably spending an hour or two just on Twitter. Getting a couple of hours in the day back was an unexpected surprise, so I’m making the best use of it. I’m now much more productive throughout the day, find it easier to relax in the evenings and weekends, and am reading more than ever.

I have no desire to return to Twitter. I’m not ruling it out, but the platform would have to drastically change before I’d even consider it. There’s very little Twitter can do for me that I can’t go elsewhere for, and what it does provide isn’t worth my happiness or support. For my own sake, abandoning Twitter was the right decision, and I only wish I’d done it sooner.