RSS: The Unsung Hero of Content Consumption
This is a column about technology. See my full ethics disclosure here.
Or better said as “RSS: Taking Back Control in the Age of Algorithms.”
Yes, this is a hype piece, one where I talk about the awesomeness of a simple technology that improves our lives.
The internet is a battleground of bots and algorithms, each fighting for your attention and prioritizing ad profits over your enjoyment and experience (see enshittification). Instead of showing you what you truly care about, they push content that keeps you scrolling and spending someone’s ad dollars rather than delivering a meaningful content experience. But there’s a better way to engage with digital media and your favorite creators, and it just happens to be a late-90s technology.
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is clearly not the newest tech on the block, but its simplicity and utility make it more relevant now than ever. It can be your secret weapon for cutting through the noise, reclaiming control over what you consume, and directly supporting creators you care about.
Why RSS Deserves Your Attention
Personalized Content: Forget algorithms deciding what you see. With RSS, you subscribe directly to your favorite sources, curating a newsfeed tailored entirely by you.
Privacy First: There is no tracking or data mining — just the content you want, on your terms. Everyone subscribes to the same feed URL, making it hard to track even if they did bake in some tracking code.
Streamlined Reading: Clean, ad-free interfaces make for distraction-free reading. Organize feeds by category, and let your brain breathe. Regardless of what computer or phone you’re on, there’s an RSS reader out there for you.
Timely Updates: RSS readers refresh in real-time, so you’re never out of the loop. No more “lost in the timeline or algorithm.”
RSS is like bookmarks but better.
Championing Independent Creators
For creators, algorithm-driven feeds can feel like a rigged game. They demand constant engagement and cater to trends, often at the expense of authenticity. RSS flips the script, offering a direct pipeline between creators and their audiences. No middlemen, no gatekeepers — just unfiltered connection.
Getting Started with RSS
Pick Your Reader: There’s a plenty of web-based tools for a cost such as Feedly, Inoreader, or my personal favorite is all open-source and free (and I have no connection to them) NetNewsWire.
Subscribe to Feeds: Many websites still support RSS (because it’s great for SEO). Look for the orange RSS icon or append “/feed” or “/rss” to the site’s URL.
Organize Your Interests: Use categories or tags to keep your feeds tidy.
Discover New Perspectives: Many RSS readers can recommend feeds aligned with your interests, helping you expand your horizons.
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Embrace RSS
Social media platforms are ad-packed echo chambers, algorithmically tuned to optimize engagement metrics rather than meaningful content. Meanwhile, RSS stands firm — a quiet rebellion against the chaos, bringing back the joy of intentional, distraction-free reading.
Final Thoughts
RSS isn’t flashy, and it doesn’t need to be. Its power lies in its simplicity, giving you control over your digital diet while supporting a healthier internet. So why not give it a try? Download a reader, subscribe to some feeds, and rediscover the pleasure of consuming content on your own terms.
RSS is like bookmarks but better.
RSS: The Unsung Hero of Content Consumption was originally published in Taco Powered Modem on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.