Chapter 1: The Importance of Staying Informed

In today’s fast-paced world, being well-informed is more crucial than ever. Utilizing an RSS reader can significantly enhance this experience.

Lately, I have been making an effort to stay updated on current events. Although 2020 was dubbed "the year everyone stayed put," numerous significant events still occurred. I felt somewhat embarrassed for not being more attuned to global happenings. I would occasionally glance at headlines from outlets like the South China Morning Post or check Reddit’s trending page. However, this approach only provided me with a shallow understanding, lacking depth and leaving me far from being truly informed.

This realization hit hard during the recent uproar surrounding WhatsApp's updated privacy policy. I only skimmed the surface of this critical topic and didn't grasp its full implications. It took a friend, who is far more news-savvy than I am, to enlighten me on how impactful this policy could be, underscoring my earlier dismissiveness. As someone who prides themselves on understanding technology, this was particularly disheartening. Motivated to improve, I resolved to engage more with the news.

Yet, keeping up with the news is often easier said than done. The 21st-century news cycle is rapid and comes from a myriad of sources, each with its own website and algorithms designed to curate content. This can lead to echo chambers, which I wished to avoid.

What I craved was a single platform that consolidated all the news I needed, organized either by recency or, preferably, relevance. Many people likely share this desire, explaining the allure of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. The convenience of having everything in one location is undeniably appealing.

However, I wanted to steer clear of social media. I sought information as close to the source as possible. This is when I recalled the benefits of RSS.

RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is a standardized format that enables websites to distribute their content in a way that applications can easily retrieve and display. Websites can share snippets of their articles through their RSS feeds, linking to the full content or even posting entire articles. Although RSS gained popularity after its introduction in 1999, it has since been overshadowed by social media feeds.

In the past month of using RSS, I have found it immensely helpful in staying updated. I discovered an open-source RSS reader, FreshRSS, which I can host on my homelab. I populated it with numerous RSS feeds from reputable news sources, categorizing them by region.

To my surprise, most English-language news outlets in Hong Kong support RSS.

Now, instead of navigating multiple websites and their interfaces, I can simply open my RSS feed, skim through the headlines, and click on the articles that catch my interest. Once I’ve finished reading, FreshRSS marks them as read and hides them, keeping my feed organized.

Not only have I been able to keep up with the news more effectively, but I’ve also explored various personal and hobbyist blogs. Staying updated on topics like Linux developments, Dungeons & Dragons, or the latest from Bill Gates provides a refreshing escape from the often grim news cycle.

Despite being considered "older technology," RSS continues to offer considerable advantages. Many modern websites still support this format, facilitating a convenient way to stay informed. If you're curious about trying RSS readers, you don’t need to self-host your own. There are several top RSS readers available for you to explore.

And if you decide to give it a try, consider adding my blog’s feed to your reader! 😉

Chapter 2: Getting Started with RSS Readers

Video Description: Discover how kids can benefit from using an RSS reader for news consumption, ensuring they stay informed.

Video Description: Learn why using RSS for news is a better alternative to social media, offering a clearer and more focused way to stay updated.