RSS Readers
So I’ve been regressing in general on the internet because of the complete and total enshittification of it. Thanks Corey Doctorow for that word or at least popularising it.
Yes, AI and big tech bros are and have completely ruined the internet and it’s time for a reset, at least for me. I’ve pulled back on using Facebook, and increased my use of Mastodon. I have installed browser plugins to hide ads and also plugins to make using websites like facebook calmer experiences by hiding and simplifying the interface of it – I have this installed for Youtube as well. Here is what that peace looks like:
I’m fighting against the psychology they employ to keep us engaged because engagement keeps them rich. Gross right – they would rather our lives be worse to line their pockets, yes that is what we are dealing with.
Anyways. You too can opt out of the enshittification of the internet. How you ask? By using a technology social media extinguished – RSS
If you want to be a badass in the noise of the internet, install an RSS reader and subscribe to website feeds directly instead. Why do this? Well, no or fewer ads, no social tracking, a clean interface to all your news, just pure simple content, the way the authors intended.
What’s a good RSS reader you ask? Well, if you are a linux nerd and like to live in a terminal screen then maybe that’s Newsboat. If you want a graphical interface, maybe Fluent Reader or RSSGuard (Windows and Mac) is going to be your bag.
Newsboat in action
Need something more pretty? Fluent Reader has got ya.
Yes I could have mentioned Feedly and other online services, but seriously, stop with that noise. Do you really need syncing across all devices all the time? Maybe it is alright to chill out a bit and just read news when you are on your laptop. Ask yourself whether it’s worth the data you are giving a company to use an online service any time you think about installing an app or using a service.
We as consumers have the ability to starve corporations en-masse if we don’t like them and what they do, we can even use their own tools to get the word out for massive boycotts before they notice, so I encourage you to be ruthless as I have. The internet is ugly but it wasn’t always and doesn’t have to be. If big tech won’t make the internet a beautiful place, we will, and this is one way to do that.
So install that RSS reader, add your first feed entry and experience a chiller internet … Welcome aboard fellow digital warriors.
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