An online system determines a client device associated with a user that is to receive a new notification. The client device presents the notification and receives an input to forward the notification to a different client device and/or a different application. The client device sends a request to the online system to forward the notification. The online system determines a list of available client devices and/or available applications that are able to receive a forwarded version of the notification and provides the list to the client device for selection. Upon receiving a selection, the client device sends the selection to the online system which generates the forward notification that is appropriate for the selected client device and/or selected application. Thus, the online system avoids over-notifying a user, while also enabling the user to consume the content of the notification according to his/her preferences.