Why am I getting no notification of many of my Apple apps updates?

I'm using the most recently updated version of Mojave, as for the apps, they are the ones that came with my iMac, and I don't recall changing my Apple ID when I bought the newer machine. Plus, I have a never-ending notification flag on my Systems Preferences icon in the Dock. It's the Software Update, which always prompts me to install Catalina, but I see now, it's also informing me of a security update, and Safari update. Great, but why did the flag just say 1, which is why I never open it to check. And still my App Store icon shows nothing about updates available... even when I just opened it, nothing about either of the two updates.

And those directions from the link you posted were confusing.. Like how is "Update from the Discover, Create, Work, Play, Develop, and Categories areas" different from the update panel in the App Store? And why do I get banner notifications about updates, asking if I want to install them now, or later tonight, but don't say what apps it says need to be installed??

Not really, cause I don't understand why I need the latest OS, just to update all the Mac apps that are relevant to the OS I'm using. I used Snow Lion or Leopard, whatever the name was, for many years after new systems were introduced, and never had a problem with notifications for Apple Apps, only now. My laptop has High Sierra, yet it will get notifications, so I don't see why my iMac, using Mojave wouldn't..

Plus, I did just install a security update & new version of Safari, as I found them in my System Preferences, Software Update section, but only because it was showing One notification, and that was for Catalina, the security update & Safari, were just sitting there, "unannounced". But they were able to be installed. I checked in the App Store, and it still showed me not having anything needing updating, while Systems Preferences did.... which makes absolutely no sense....

And yet again, soon as I reply and try to scroll back up to the top of the page, Safari won't go! If I try to scroll or move my mouse up, it just starts shuddering and flashing, and jerking me back down the page!! WTF is that all about?? Then after a few minutes, it works OK again.....

Yeah, I'm going to have to call Apple, and hope after being on hold, it doesn't disconnect on me, as it did last night. I just did two updates on my laptop, a security one from Apple and an app from the app store, yet there was no notification tag on my app store icon, only when I opened it and hit Updates, did they actually show up... Again, another feature on this Mac that is just not working as it should. But thanks for your suggestions..