From your family page, click the Options link. Look for the option: "Default news filter: " Set it to "No OOC Messages". Then when you check your messages, you will have to explicitly click the "All messages" or OOC options to actually see them. I've had my filter set this way forever.
Note that OOC messages will still trip the new messages waiting notifications, though.
Thanks for the info
, years playing and still unknown features and options. I love this game
