Consuming the Web Through RSS: A Behind-the-Scenes Perspective on Information Consumption
By
Curiositry
Pulled from the oven just right. Trustworthy, fact-dense, deeply satisfying.
Summary
The article describes the author's experience of consuming web content primarily through RSS feeds rather than visiting websites directly. The author explains their long-term use of RSS readers since the mid-2000s, how this approach provides a different perspective on online information consumption, and what it's like to subscribe to 2,000 RSS feeds. The piece reflects on how RSS offers a more controlled, personalized information diet compared to algorithm-driven platforms and AI-curated content, positioning RSS as a behind-the-scenes view of the web rather than the front-facing experience most users encounter.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledI read a lot on the web. I almost never look at websites, though. I consume almost everything through an RSS reader.
As AI reshapes the way online information is organised and consumed, it increasingly feels like I'm behind the scenes, watching the performance from the wings rather than seeing it from the front as intended.
I've been an RSS-first reader since I was a student in the mid-2000s. Back then, publications made it an attractive prospect.
What the web looks like when you subscribe to 2,000 RSS feeds.
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