Forum notification do not have read and unread functionality, upfront and easy to figure out.
I am new to this forum script, so correct me, when I am wrong.
Most forums I participate in the notification area does something to allow you to tell read from unread. This is normally in your face easy to see.
In the header drop down, Sure they are blue and white backgrounds, however, once you click ONE they all turn blue.
Then when you view all notifications there is absolutely nothing to let me know what I need to read.
I did figure out how to go to the unread area and click the filters. To figure this out. This took time and effort. Which is something we Internet Consultants call Friction.
Less Friction means more views, more views means more time on site, more time on site equals more sales.