A message notification method for a communication account. The method includes logging in, by an active terminal and an inactive terminal, to a communication platform using the communication account, sending, by the active terminal, status information to the communication platform, the status information indicating the active terminal is active, sending, by the communication platform, a first message to the active terminal according to the status information, and sending, by the communication platform, a second message to the inactive terminal. The first message carries first notification instruction information instructing to output a strong notification message, and the second message carries second notification instruction information instructing to output a weak notification message, or to not output a notification message. The method further includes outputting, by the active terminal, the strong notification message according to the first notification instruction information.