Your Samsung phone is about to start guilt-tripping you, and honestly, you probably deserve it

Samsung has begun rolling out the One UI 8.5 beta to Galaxy S25 users, and while the update introduces a range of new features and refinements, one addition is already sparking plenty of discussion, for reasons that go beyond pure functionality. The feature in question is called Now Brief, and its goal is simple: nudge users to stay in touch with their family.

In practice, though, it can feel a bit more confronting than expected. According to Android Authority, the phone surfaced a prompt encouraging them to “say hello to your family” after detecting that they hadn’t contacted a loved one for 26 days. To make the reminder even more pointed, the notification explicitly stated the number of days since the last interaction.

While the feature is clearly designed with good intentions: encouraging healthier personal relationships in an increasingly disconnected digital world, it doesn’t exactly pull its punches. Seeing a countdown of missed days can feel less like a friendly reminder and more like a quiet judgment from your phone.

This family reminder system raises some interesting questions

Users do have the option to dismiss the alert by tapping “Not now,” but that doesn’t necessarily erase the lingering sense of guilt the message might leave behind. Unlike many notifications that fade into the background, this one is hard to overlook. The reminder appears directly on the Now Bar in One UI 8.5, ensuring it stays front and centre until addressed.

It’s not clear yet how the phone figures out who counts as family. Samsung might use contacts tagged in a family group, or it could look at other details to identify close relatives. The company hasn’t explained this part yet. Samsung has been making bold moves lately, including key pricing changes for the Galaxy S26.

Users might wonder if they can choose which family members trigger these reminders. Can you turn it off for some people but keep it on for others? Samsung hasn’t shared these details with the beta release.The One UI 8.5 update includes other useful additions too. 

There’s a torch indicator on the Now Bar, a new toggle to block apps with too many ads, and better power-saving options. But the family contact reminder is definitely the most personal feature in this update.

Despite the questions, this seems like a thoughtful addition to Samsung’s software. It might make some users uncomfortable, but it could also help people stay better connected with the people who matter most. Meanwhile, leaks suggest that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will fix long-standing user complaints.