From 3c91dc64c9acf855a2bb11933d249b5dfa0a18f5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Patrick Britton <admin@pbritton.dev>
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2026 13:00:05 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] feat(notifications): make push messages more specific and
 include chosen reaction emoji

---
 go-backend/internal/handlers/post_handler.go  |  1 +
 .../internal/services/notification_service.go | 21 ++++++++++++-------
 2 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/go-backend/internal/handlers/post_handler.go b/go-backend/internal/handlers/post_handler.go
index 111e98a..1788a35 100644
--- a/go-backend/internal/handlers/post_handler.go
+++ b/go-backend/internal/handlers/post_handler.go
@@ -465,6 +465,7 @@ func (h *PostHandler) LikePost(c *gin.Context) {
 				userIDStr.(string),
 				postID,
 				postType,
+				"❤️",
 			)
 		}
 	}()
diff --git a/go-backend/internal/services/notification_service.go b/go-backend/internal/services/notification_service.go
index 7ff4d2a..038c279 100644
--- a/go-backend/internal/services/notification_service.go
+++ b/go-backend/internal/services/notification_service.go
@@ -30,11 +30,15 @@ func NewNotificationService(notifRepo *repository.NotificationRepository, pushSv
 // ============================================================================
 
 // NotifyLike sends a notification when someone likes a post
-func (s *NotificationService) NotifyLike(ctx context.Context, postAuthorID, actorID, postID string, postType string) error {
+func (s *NotificationService) NotifyLike(ctx context.Context, postAuthorID, actorID, postID string, postType string, emoji string) error {
 	if postAuthorID == actorID {
 		return nil // Don't notify self
 	}
 
+	if emoji == "" {
+		emoji = "❤️"
+	}
+
 	return s.sendNotification(ctx, models.PushNotificationRequest{
 		UserID:   uuid.MustParse(postAuthorID),
 		Type:     models.NotificationTypeLike,
@@ -43,6 +47,9 @@ func (s *NotificationService) NotifyLike(ctx context.Context, postAuthorID, acto
 		PostType: postType,
 		GroupKey: fmt.Sprintf("like:%s", postID), // Group likes on same post
 		Priority: models.PriorityNormal,
+		Metadata: map[string]interface{}{
+			"emoji": emoji,
+		},
 	})
 }
 
@@ -322,28 +329,28 @@ func (s *NotificationService) buildPushPayload(req models.PushNotificationReques
 	}
 
 	// Extract optional emoji
-	emoji, _ := req.Metadata["emoji"].(string)
+	emoji := getString(req.Metadata, "emoji")
 
 	switch req.Type {
 	case models.NotificationTypeLike:
 		if emoji != "" {
 			title = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", actorName, emoji)
-			body = fmt.Sprintf("%s reacted %s to your %s", actorName, emoji, s.formatPostType(req.PostType))
+			body = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s your %s", actorName, emoji, s.formatPostType(req.PostType))
 		} else {
 			title = "New Like"
 			body = fmt.Sprintf("%s liked your %s", actorName, s.formatPostType(req.PostType))
 		}
 
 	case models.NotificationTypeComment:
-		title = "New Comment"
+		title = fmt.Sprintf("%s 💬", actorName)
 		body = fmt.Sprintf("%s commented on your %s", actorName, s.formatPostType(req.PostType))
 
 	case models.NotificationTypeReply:
-		title = "New Reply"
+		title = fmt.Sprintf("%s 💬", actorName)
 		body = fmt.Sprintf("%s replied to your comment", actorName)
 
 	case models.NotificationTypeMention:
-		title = "You Were Mentioned"
+		title = "Mentioned"
 		body = fmt.Sprintf("%s mentioned you in a post", actorName)
 
 	case models.NotificationTypeFollow:
@@ -373,7 +380,7 @@ func (s *NotificationService) buildPushPayload(req models.PushNotificationReques
 		body = fmt.Sprintf("%s saved your %s", actorName, s.formatPostType(req.PostType))
 
 	case models.NotificationTypeMessage:
-		title = "New Message"
+		title = fmt.Sprintf("%s ✉️", actorName)
 		body = fmt.Sprintf("%s sent you a message", actorName)
 
 	case models.NotificationTypeBeaconVouch: