Electronic devices described herein are configured to display updated content associated with a first application having a first user interface element disposed in a background area of a display that is obscured by a second user interface element associated with a second application. Responsive to a command from the first application to notify the user of the updated content, the operating system displays at least a portion of a translucent version of the first user interface element with the updated content in the foreground display area, wherein the translucent version of the first user interface element obscures at least a portion of the second user interface element.