Pluralistic: You should be using an RSS reader – Cory Doctorow

I've been using RSS and a feed reader for at least a decade but I suspect two. It is the way that I find all the content that you see in the Weekly Thing by the way. So, it could come as no surprise that I completely agree with Doctorow on this point.

And then I had a realization: the conduit through which I experience Molly's excellent work is totally enshittification-proof, and the more I use it, the easier it is for everyone to be less enshittified.

This conduit is anti-lock-in, it works for nearly the whole internet. It is surveillance-resistant, far more accessible than the web or any mobile app interface. It is my secret super-power.

It's RSS.

Doctorow does a great job laying out the argument and going into detail on all the use cases. It is a great read. If you are not using a Feed Reader today it is the number one thing I would encourage you to do so you can control and manage the inflow of information you get.

Personally I use Feedbin. I think it is a great service. Does exactly what I want and even has fancy features like rules and filters. I also like the user experience of Unread which gets my feeds via Feedbin. Feedbin is also great in a browser if you don't want two things.

What about content that isn't made available via RSS? Get rid of it. The provider is signaling their intention when is to get your attention and lock you in.

No RSS, no attention.