fix

lib/features/notifications/presentation/providers/notification_provider.dart

@@ -42,6 +42,16 @@ class UnreadCountNotifier extends StateNotifier<int> {
     }
   }
 
+  /// Set count to zero immediately (optimistic update).
+  void setZero() {
+    if (mounted) state = 0;
+  }
+
+  /// Decrement count by 1 (optimistic update for single mark-as-read).
+  void decrement() {
+    if (mounted && state > 0) state = state - 1;
+  }
+
   /// Stop polling (call on logout).
   void stopPolling() {
     _timer?.cancel();
@@ -164,18 +174,24 @@ class NotificationListNotifier extends StateNotifier<NotificationListState> {
           return n;
         }).toList(),
       );
-      _ref.read(unreadCountProvider.notifier).refresh();
+      // Decrement count immediately, then sync with server
+      final countNotifier = _ref.read(unreadCountProvider.notifier);
+      countNotifier.decrement();
     } catch (_) {}
   }
 
   Future<void> markAllAsRead() async {
     try {
+      // Set count to 0 immediately for instant UI feedback
+      _ref.read(unreadCountProvider.notifier).setZero();
       await _repo.markAllAsRead();
       state = state.copyWith(
         notifications:
             state.notifications.map((n) => n.copyWith(read: true)).toList(),
       );
+    } catch (_) {
+      // If API fails, refresh from server to get correct count
       _ref.read(unreadCountProvider.notifier).refresh();
-    } catch (_) {}
+    }
   }
 }

lib/features/notifications/presentation/screens/notifications_screen.dart

@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ class _NotificationsScreenState extends ConsumerState<NotificationsScreen> {
                       ),
                       const SizedBox(height: 2),
                       Text(
-                        notification.description,
+                        _formatDescription(notification.description),
                         style: TextStyle(
                           fontFamily: 'SourceSerif4',
                           fontSize: 14,
@@ -425,6 +425,18 @@ class _NotificationsScreenState extends ConsumerState<NotificationsScreen> {
     }
   }
 
+  String _formatDescription(String description) {
+    final trimmed = description.trim();
+    // Detect raw URLs (image/gif links) and show friendly text instead
+    if (trimmed.startsWith('http://') || trimmed.startsWith('https://')) {
+      final lower = trimmed.toLowerCase();
+      if (lower.contains('.gif')) return 'Sent a GIF';
+      if (lower.contains('.png') || lower.contains('.jpg') || lower.contains('.jpeg') || lower.contains('.webp')) return 'Sent an image';
+      return 'Sent a link';
+    }
+    return description;
+  }
+
   String _timeAgo(DateTime dateTime) {
     final now = DateTime.now();
     final diff = now.difference(dateTime);