RSS: The Forgotten Technology

RSS shows no immediate signs of disappearing, but it’s certainly fading. 

It’s a relatively simple technology that’s painfully difficult to explain (although CommonCraft still has the best tutorial around). The benefits of RSS are intriguing to many, but after you mention XML and feed readers, most assume it’s too technical and tune out. For others, RSS feeds were quickly forgotten as soon as Twitter and other tools came along.

Maybe I’m the oddball, but I can’t imagine life without RSS. It shares many qualities of the newer, shinier social media tools, but they don’t replace RSS. Here’s why:

RSS is on my terms. I scan my feeds a couple times each day, and I’m done. Although I’m a big advocate of Twitter, Facebook and other social tools, they sometimes feel like an information fire hose that never turns off. RSS feels less intrusive.

All my interests – personal and professional – converge. This is another benefit of Twitter (and Facebook, to some extent), but RSS is better at packaging my interests in one place.

All of my information sources – personal and professional – converge. My RSS mix features traditional media sources, blogs and assorted other sites.

RSS actually aids my use of Twitter. I monitor several Twitter hashtags, but I’ve set them up as RSS feeds. I scan them when I want.

I can prioritize my reading. My “A” list of feeds is my priority, and I can cruise through the rest if I don’t have time.

I’m confident another information-gathering tool (or combination of tools) will eventually replace my RSS reader. But until then, RSS remains vital to my learning and interests.