Escape the walled garden and algorithm black boxes with RSS feeds

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2025-01-19 20:30:09

Table of contentsWhat is RSS or AtomFeed readersFinding feedsMeetups and eventsYouTube and PeerTube channelsPodcastsSocial media and Fediverse accountsNewslettersBlogs and website postsWebsites without a feedDiscovering new contentSearchCuration and recommendationConclusion

With most online platforms, it’s becoming more and more difficult to view a feed of content that is not generated by an algorithm whose purpose it is to keep you engaged. Often, these algorithms are a black box where you don’t know why certain content is being promoted, let alone have full control over the content you consume. The incentives and needs of those controlling the algorithms are different from your own. Platforms may seek to politically influence you or sell you something you don’t need. Platforms may change hands, changing the influence they wish to have on their users. The good news is RSS and Atom offer a decentralized alternative.

Decentralization is becoming more popular as people are growing increasingly frustrated with centralized social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook and Reddit. Protocols such as ActivityPub and Bluesky’s AtProto give people more control over their data, identity, and content feeds. Allowing people to consume the content that they want to consume, in a way that works for them.