In Praise of RSS and Controlled Feeds of Information The article by Tom Burkert, published on September 26, 2025, explores the value of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) as a superior alternative to algorithm-driven, walled-garden platforms dominating online content consumption today. --- What is RSS? RSS is a standard format that websites use to publish updates (articles, posts, podcasts). Users subscribe to these updates via RSS readers (aggregators). It pre-dates social media and algorithmic feeds but offers full user control over content. Most content management systems support RSS by default. Podcasts rely heavily on RSS feeds. RSS provides a chronological, unfiltered flow of content chosen solely by the user. For those interested in learning more, Molly White’s article Curate your own newspaper with RSS is recommended. --- Problems with Algorithmic Feeds Social media platforms, like Facebook, have abandoned chronological feeds for algorithmic ones that prioritize engagement and ad revenue. This leads to a frustrating experience where important updates are mixed with junk and engagement-bait. Algorithmic curation is misaligned with users’ best interests, often favoring advertiser priorities over informational quality. Personal anecdote: The author used Facebook for band updates but quickly found it ineffective due to algorithmic noise and paid promotion requirements. Result: The author stopped using Facebook and similar social media. --- How the Author Uses RSS Started using RSS with early tools like Opera and Thunderbird; also used Google Reader (now defunct) and The Old Reader. Currently runs FreshRSS on a personal server and consumes most feeds on mobile using the FeedMe app. Advantages experienced: Full control—only the feeds chosen by the user. Ability to categorize content by mood or interest (e.g., "Fun", "Reads", or research papers). Consistency and distraction-free reading interface. Avoids ads, engagement bait, and intrusive website elements. Comments sections and suggested articles are omitted, reducing time-wasting. --- Tips for Getting Started with RSS Find RSS Feeds: Look for RSS icons or use tools like Lighthouse to find feeds. Often adding the homepage URL to an aggregator works. Better alternatives for music updates: Use Muspy, which notifies about new releases via email or personal RSS feeds. Start with easy readers: Try The Old Reader or Feedly with free tiers; export/import OPML files to switch readers easily. Organize feeds: Use folders/categories to tailor reading by interest or mood. Offline reading: Many readers cache articles—useful during travel or poor internet connectivity. Access paywalled content via RSS: Some sites are less restrictive on RSS content access. Advanced options: Self-host RSS aggregators like FreshRSS, Tiny Tiny RSS, or selfoss for more control. Mobile apps matter: Test multiple apps to find one with a user interface that suits you. Bookmarking: Use built-in starring/bookmarking features. Use category/tag feeds: For larger publications, subscribe to specific topic feeds to limit flood. RSS APIs: For example, arXiv offers detailed queries to follow specific research topics. Regular cleanup: Unsubscribe from feeds that no longer interest you. Find popular feeds: Check curated lists like: ThemeIsle’s 100 most popular RSS feeds Feedspot’s 70 most popular feeds Hostinger’s 55 popular blogs --- Conclusion RSS offers a private, simple, and powerful way of consuming curated information without the pitfalls of algorithmic feeds. It restores user control, reduces distractions, and facilitates a more meaningful media diet tailored to individual