RSS feeds have a history that dates back to 1999. They are long-standing format that allows for easy to use content syndication. The decades since the emergence of RSS feeds are like a million internet years, so there have been some alternatives to RSS feeds have emerged that provide more ease of use, richer feature set, and better integration with a broader spectrum of web services.
There are some limitations or complaints about RSS feeds. One is that there is often a lack of great multimedia support. Because there isn’t one RSS application, there are many different implementations of the standard, which leads to poor user experience. It also can be difficult to switch RSS applications because of how different applications handle sorting, folders, and other organizational issues. Another big limitation of RSS feeds is that it’s all or nothing. If you subscribe to a feed, you get EVERYTHING in that feed. Even content that you’re not interested in. In many ways, more interactive mediums have taken the place of RSS feeds.
The rise of Social Media has had a monumental impact on how people consume content. Platforms like Facebook, X/Twitter and LinkedIn have taken up the mantel of the main places people get their news and content. In addition to being able to subscribe to content updates from a news source (ABC News, ESPN, NPR, etc.) on the social media platforms, users can subscribe to and follow individual people. There is also the social component which RSS is lacking. On social media sites, you can reply to content, share it, comment on it. It’s more interactive, where RSS feeds are passive and focused on consumption.
Social media can be great for following the content creators you like, but there are drawbacks to relying on social media for your content updates. Because most social media is based on the concept of a feed, it’s very easy to have relevant content that you would care about get buried under an update about what kind of cookies Aunt Suzie made for the neighbor. Surely the cookies were great, but you really wanted to see the article about the latest Cubs trade rumor, but you missed it because you didn’t scroll far enough past all those tastey cookies.
Curated news aggregators have emerged as a popular alternative to traditional RSS feeds, offering a more personalized and visually engaging way to consume news. Platforms like Apple News, Google News, and Flipboard curate content based on user preferences and reading habits, employing complex algorithms to present a tailored feed that includes a variety of media formats—articles, videos, and images. This personalized approach not only enhances user engagement by delivering relevant content but also simplifies discovery, helping users explore topics they might not have sought out independently. If sports are your thing, you don’t have to look to hard to find a sports news aggregator, the site you’re on right now curates sports news about your favorite team and delivers it in an easy to use format.
Additionally, these aggregators often provide a cleaner and more intuitive user interface compared to standard RSS feed readers, making them attractive to users who prioritize ease of use and aesthetic appeal. While the reliance on algorithmic curation can sometimes lead to a filtering bubble effect, many users appreciate the convenience and breadth of content that curated news aggregators offer.
Over the past few years, there has been a huge rise in newsletter. It seems like everyone has their own newsletter that they want you to subscribe to. And it makes sense. The email newsletter is a very tailored, specific way to get content. That content is typically purpose built specifically about one thing, or one topic. That’s really attractive for a lot of niche markets. There is probably a newsletter for Chicago Cubs fans that live in Liverpool. If not, there sure should be. There are a lot of great newsletter platforms (Ghost, and Beehiiv to name a couple), and some sketchy ones (looking at you Substack).
RSS feeds can be great, but they’re not all things for all situations. There are times when a specific tool is needed. That is where social media, curated news aggregators, and email newsletters can really step in and provide a lot of value for you. Go and check out these different options and see what’s right for you. You may be surprised that something new is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
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