---
sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform user interface
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-user-interface

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform user interface

ft:clusterId :

    - platux

bundleId :

    - platux

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Activity streams

# Activity streams {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read

An activity stream is a list of entries in records and conversations, such as journal
fields, comments, and work notes that display in task records and Sidebar
conversations. Activity streams are available Core UI.

The three types of activity streams are as follows:

List activity stream
:   Streams live activity information for all records on the current list. For more
    information, see [Activity streams in list view](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/j~mmftbDH5tV1~xdNDJpSA "Stream live activity information for all records on the current list.").
    You can click an item to open the record activity stream without opening the record.

Record activity stream
:   Appears in forms that are configured with the
    [activity formatter](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_ActivityFormatter&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US)
    . You can customize the activities to
    include in this type of stream.

    When you follow a record to view it in the Connect Chat
    interface, the conversation contains the same information as the record activity stream.
    Comments that are entered in the Connect Chat window update the record activity
    stream.

Visual Task Board
:   Streams live activity information for all task cards in the current task board. You can
    click an item in the activity stream to [open the
    task card](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PTHNU3_XqFnCMst553NElQ#t_EditCardDetails "Edit the details of the card if you need to assign tasks, add comments, change the due date, or change other features of the card.") and view the activity stream of the record.

## Attachments and images {#c_activity-streams__section_ynb_3rs_thb}

You can add and preview attachments and images in the activity stream by doing the following actions:

* Paste an image into a journal field and enter the inline text.
* Click an attachment to preview it. Use the download option to download the attachment locally.
* Use antivirus scanning to protect against virus infections that can be introduced by file attachments. After being uploaded, the system automatically scans all files for viruses. If a file is infected, you can't view or download the file.
{#c_activity-streams__ul_znb_3rs_thb}

## @ Mentions

Get someone's attention on a record by mentioning them with the @ character in an activity stream.  
Note:  
Emails sent for @Mention run against the live_notification table and are not added to the journal field of the parent table.
Any user can use activity stream mentions in the following places:

* On a form, in the [activity formatter](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_ActivityFormatter&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) (Core UI only).
* In a list, in the [activity stream](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/j~mmftbDH5tV1~xdNDJpSA "Stream live activity information for all records on the current list.") for a record.
* On a Visual Task Board card, in the [card details](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PTHNU3_XqFnCMst553NElQ#t_EditCardDetails "Edit the details of the card if you need to assign tasks, add comments, change the due date, or change other features of the card.").
* In a Connect [record conversation](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_StartARecordConversation&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US).
{#c_activity-streams__ul_mlc_vfs_tv}

To mention someone, enter the <kbd class="ph userinput">@</kbd> character in a supported activity
stream. Next, select a user from the suggestion list to select any user in the instance. You
can see which users have access to the record and, if presence is enabled, who is online.
Enter any other text and post to the activity stream. The following example shows an
#Mention on a form.  
Figure 1. Activity stream mention on a form

By default, you receive an email notification when someone mentions you. You can disable
this behavior by unsubscribing from the Activity Stream @Mention Email notification on your
[notification preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=user-notification-preferences&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US).

If Connect is enabled, you can receive additional notifications, depending on whether you
[follow the record in
Connect](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_StartARecordConversation&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US). When someone mentions you in a
record that you do not follow in Connect, you receive whichever Connect notifications you
enabled globally, as well as the Activity Stream @Mention Email notification. If you do
follow the record in Connect, you only receive notifications according to your [notification preferences](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_EditNotifRecAConv&version=australia&pubname=australia-servicenow-platform&ft:locale=en-US) for the record conversation. In this case, you do not receive the
Activity Stream @Mention Email notification.  
Note:  
The system creates a record on the notification \[live_notification\] table each time a user is mentioned. The record stores the information required to generate notifications.

You can filter out emails in the activity stream, for example, auto-generated and
correspondence emails, by selecting the ![Activity stream filter icon.](). Select Post types to check or clear the boxes of the types
of emails and posts that display in your activity stream.  
Note:  
The activity stream displays either a user's first and last name or their user name/user id, depending on the system property glide.ui.activity.displayname. It is possible that old entries in the activity stream will display a different user name/user id for the same user, if the value has changed. For more information, see [KB1706641](https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB1706641).