Jay 🆘Jul 5, 2024

Non-rhetorical question: How did email newsletter services like #Substack make reading blogs so popular again?

What would it take for #RSS to see the same success?

Show threadÓli Gneisti (English)

Maybe people would take #RSS more seriously if they understood that it is the basis of #podcasting.

The media in general and #creators specifically could spend a fraction of the time they take to "plug their socials" just explaining to people that RSS is a simple way to follow them.

I also think creators should free themselves from the dreaded algorithms by creating a feed that is updated whenever they release new content. I would argue that they should try to mirror as much of their content as possible on their own sites to control their own archive.

I think that a tool that helps creators aggregate their content across #Platforms would make a lot of difference. Then they can say "instead of following me on all those apps platforms you can just keep updated with rss".

It takes a lot of work to format videos for each #SocialMedia platform. You can't just upload your #YouTube video #TikTok but you can upload (or embed) all those videos to your own site which creates a feed that people can subscribe to with any #RSSApp.

#YouTubers #TikTokers #bloggers #blogs.

@jsit

Jul 5, 2024 at 7:14pmWeb
Show threadJay 🆘Jul 5, 2024
@oligneisti Algorithms are not “dreaded” by most people
Show threadÓli Gneisti (English)Jul 5, 2024

I meant that #creators always seem to be dreading a change in the algorithm that will deemphasize their content. That is why they should take the initiative in spreading the word.

@jsit

Show threadcandide.xyzJul 7, 2024

@[email protected] @jsit That last paragraph really resonates! From a solo creator's POV, even with bulk scheduling tools that can post across platforms, it's a headache to manage and detracts from content creation. I'm also pro- "own your content on your site", à la #indieweb #POSSE (Publish on your own site, syndicate elsewhere).

That said, an #RSS reader lacks the ability of, say, #activitypub to comment and interact directly with video content, creators, and other users. (1/4)

Show threadcandide.xyzJul 7, 2024

In an alternate universe, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, IG Reels, Snapchat Spotlights, etc. would simply be RSS reader-like platforms, pulling content from sites using the same protocol (kind of like how there are multiple Mastodon clients), instead of the other way around.

So, I could host all my videos on my own singular video hosting site (or a cooperatively managed one), and people could follow, view, and comment on my content on their "viewer" of choice. (2/4)

Show threadcandide.xyzJul 7, 2024

This way...

- Users get to choose the interface they like best, while maintaining a single list of creators they follow,

- Creators simply upload their content on one platform that they own, and only need to manage / moderate comments from one place, while still being discoverable

- "Viewer platforms" can still implement whatever algos/filtering they want *AND* they save on storage

(3/4)

Show threadcandide.xyzJul 7, 2024

#Peertube is the closest thing to this, as far as I know, and has #rss + #activitypub, but it's not widely adopted. It's also not the simplest (or cheapest) thing to manage on your own.

Monetization, music licensing, moderation are whole other cans of worms too... 🫣

(4/4)

Show threadJak2k 🏳️‍🌈Jul 7, 2024

@candide @jsit

For things like commenting, we have webmentions in the #indieweb. The doenside is that it requires an own website. Currently, that's not very easy for most people. We still need a solution for that. Something like a lightweight CMS or static server with benefits.

Show threadcandide.xyzJul 7, 2024

@jak2k I use Publii, which is a local, lightweight, static site generator + CMS that's pretty user-friendly. I use Netlify as the server, but users can pick which server they want to use to host.

I know bridgy fed has caught a lot of flack, but I tested their website-to-fediverse connection with Publii, and was able to @ mention my website from Mastodon, and receive a webmention, which I found really cool.

Like you said, though: it's not easy for most non-tech people to implement themselves.

Show threadJak2k 🏳️‍🌈Jul 7, 2024

@candide
Publii looks interesting.

The optimal solution would be a modular & open source all-in-one solution for generation, webmentions, IndieAuth, ActivityPub, editing & interacting. Like Mastodon or Misskey, just for websites. Or like WordPress in IndieWeb and modern.

Show threadDaniël Franke 🏳️‍🌈Jul 7, 2024

@oligneisti
@jsit

I think the problem with RSS is that normal people are so used to having a single (free?) service for a thing. It's why Google news shutting down was so devastating to the RSS ecosystem.

It's also why I think substack got popular, as it's a centralised service for newsletters.

I wish that wasn't the case, but people these days don't seem to want to think about having a local client that interfaces with multiple services.

Show threadFalcon DarkstarJul 7, 2024
@oligneisti @jsit it's one of the hidden costs of social media. Those who have a ton of spare time and little to say are more discoverable than those who are busy and industrious, simply because the former have more time to reformat things and make frequent (even daily) posts.
Show threadSörenJul 7, 2024

@oligneisti @jsit @mood it’s all about the killer app. Mozilla tried using RSS as “live bookmarks”. Microsoft put channels (sort of a priori-RSS) on the desktop and in the browser sidebar. Apple did widgets. Yahoo! did Pipes. Of course, dedicated apps like NetNewsWire and Reader appeared.

None of it stuck enough for the mass market.

Except for one thing: podcasts. Where, really, RSS are just incidental backend tech. The user doesn’t need to care.