What is RSS?

RSS feed

RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication (or Rich Site Summary, depending on the version), is a web feed format designed to deliver frequently updated content from websites directly to users. The primary purpose of RSS is to provide a streamlined way for people to access new information—such as news headlines, blog posts, or podcast episodes—without having to visit each website individually. An RSS feed is essentially an XML file that contains a list of updates, including article titles, links to the full content, descriptions, and publication dates.

What does it offer?

The way RSS works is straightforward: content creators generate an RSS feed that is regularly updated with new posts or articles. Users who wish to follow this content can subscribe to the feed through an RSS reader, also known as an aggregator. The RSS reader checks the feed at intervals and displays new content in a simple, organized format, allowing users to stay informed without visiting each website manually. The feed presents only the latest updates, making it easier for users to catch up on the latest news or blog posts in one place.

Why RSS?

One of the main benefits of using RSS is the time-saving aspect. Rather than having to visit numerous sites to check for new content, users can gather updates from multiple sources in one convenient location. This method eliminates the need to navigate through advertisements and irrelevant content, focusing solely on what the user has subscribed to. For content creators, RSS offers a direct channel to their audience, ensuring their latest posts are automatically delivered to readers without any additional barriers, such as relying on social media algorithms or search engine rankings.

RSS is particularly useful in cases where users need to stay updated on topics they care about, like breaking news, blog posts, or podcast episodes. Many news websites and blogs use RSS to syndicate their content, and many podcast creators distribute new episodes this way as well. RSS can also be an effective tool for content aggregators, who collect and display updates from multiple sources in one interface for ease of consumption. Even with the rise of social media platforms, RSS remains popular among users who value a more focused, noise-free method of staying informed.

RSS tools

Some popular RSS readers include platforms like Feedly. Liferea, The Old Reader, and Inoreader. These readers allow users to subscribe to and manage various feeds in one place, helping them stay organized and up-to-date with minimal effort. While RSS may not have the same widespread visibility as social media, it continues to serve as a valuable tool for those who appreciate a clean, efficient way to follow content that matters to them.

The rise and decline

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) emerged in the late 1990s as a response to the growing need for more efficient ways to consume online content. Its roots trace back to a project developed by Netscape in 1997, which aimed to provide users with a way to syndicate news articles. Over the next few years, various versions and improvements of RSS were introduced, with the most significant milestones being the release of RSS 2.0 in 2002, which standardized the format and made it more widely accessible. During the early 2000s, RSS gained significant traction among bloggers, news organizations, and content creators as a way to directly deliver content to users without the need for constant web browsing. It allowed for a streamlined, ad-free consumption of content, which appealed to users seeking a cleaner, more focused alternative to traditional websites.

However, with the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter in the late 2000s, the popularity of RSS began to decline. These platforms offered more interactive, social ways to discover and share content, which slowly diminished the demand for RSS feeds. As websites began to rely more on algorithms and engagement-driven models for distributing content, RSS became less essential for casual internet users, who now preferred the real-time updates and social connections provided by social media. Despite this decline, RSS still retains a loyal user base among people who value its simplicity and privacy, particularly among journalists, podcasters, and content aggregators. While not as ubiquitous as it once was, RSS continues to serve as a niche but valuable tool for users seeking a focused and personalized way to follow content online.

What is missing?

Social media platforms provide several features that RSS lacks, primarily centered around interactivity, real-time engagement, and personalization. Unlike RSS, which delivers content passively, social media encourages two-way communication. Users can not only receive updates but also comment, share, like, and interact with content creators and other followers, fostering a sense of community and engagement. This interactivity allows for dynamic conversations and real-time reactions, which RSS does not offer.