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RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a document format you use to syndicate content. In this context, syndicate means to make content available to others. Using RSS, content gets published in a standard format that's readable and usable by a variety of applications and software.

Where your followers can only use Instagram to follow your Instagram feed, if you published your text and pictures using RSS as well, people can follow your feed using whatever (RSS-enabled) program they like. What's more, RSS is an open format, which means it's free to use and not owned by anyone.

Feeds don't have to be a blog

Feeds are not limited to blog content or social media posts. They can be anything. A feed is content-agnostic XML (the name of the coding language used to write it) that does not need to know what information is contained within it.

"Subscribe wherever"

Jim Nielsen discusses the "subscribe wherever" convention that's widespread in the podcasting world:

It’s an expression that has entered the larger public consciousness and suggests (albeit an implicit) understanding of an open, distributed web. You don’t go to a singular, centralized, corporate gatekeeper to get your podcasts. [...] It’s not “Stream it now on Netflix” or “Follow us on Facebook” or even “Visit ourwebsite.com”. [...]

Imagine a de-centralized model of syndication and supporting third-party apps such that non-techies would know what it means when somebody says, “Follow me online”. It wouldn’t entail being funneled through the digital tools of any one, centralized entity; rather, you’d just grab your favorite app for following people and subscribe!

In a "subscribe wherever" world, we would see apex (top-level) domains becoming the way you identify yourself. You would no longer be a tenant of a giant corporate platform, beholden to their rules and restrictions.

You could just be yourself at yourname.com, and own your identity, content and conduct. And your followers could use any RSS-enabled app or platform to subscribe to your content.

Follow people with RSS instead of social media

From the Feedle.world FAQ:

There are several reasons why RSS is better than social media:

  • RSS is more efficient. When you subscribe to an RSS feed, you get the content you're interested in delivered directly to you, rather than having to wade through a bunch of other stuff you don't care about.

  • RSS is more reliable. Social media platforms are constantly changing their algorithms, which can result in missing out on content you care about. With RSS, you know you'll always get the content you're subscribed to.

  • RSS is more private. With social media, your data is constantly being collected and shared with third-party advertisers. RSS doesn't have that issue, as you only get content from the website you're subscribed to.

RSS feed readers