James McGrath

A recent LinkedIn comment got me thinking about something I hadn’t considered in a while: RSS feeds. The commenter reflected on how Drupal 7 had RSS tools baked into various system parts—views, nodes, and taxonomy pages—making it easy to syndicate content.

But over the years, RSS faded from mainstream use, overshadowed by social media algorithms and engagement-driven feeds.

That raises an interesting question:

Could RSS be “reborn”—like QR codes?

A Brief History of RSS

For those who weren’t deep into web syndication in the early 2000s, RSS (Really Simple Syndication) was a way to subscribe to blogs, news sites, and forums. Instead of relying on platforms to deliver content, users could follow sites directly in their RSS reader—no ads, no manipulation, just pure content.

It was the foundation of early internet content consumption, where people had control over what they read. Then, things changed:

• Social media took over – Platforms like Facebook and Twitter became the primary way people discovered content, promising better “connection” and “discovery.”
• Google Reader was shut down in 2013 – Many considered this the final blow, as it had been the most widely used RSS reader.
• RSS wasn’t flashy – A small orange icon never stood a chance against algorithmically boosted viral content and dopamine-fueled infinite scrolling.

Is RSS Making a Comeback?

Despite its decline, RSS never truly disappeared. Some of us never stopped using it. I still use Feedly, and it works well for my needs. It delivers only the content I care about—no ads, algorithms, or distractions.

And today, there are real signs of an RSS resurgence:

✔ The Open Web Movement – With growing concerns about platform control and content moderation, open standards like RSS are getting a fresh look.

✔ Social Media Fatigue – People are tired of algorithm-driven feeds, where they have no control over what they see. RSS puts users back in charge.

✔ Privacy & Data Control – RSS doesn’t track you, doesn’t sell your data, and doesn’t push engagement-based content. It’s content-first, always.

✔ Podcasting Still Runs on RSS – If you listen to podcasts, you’re already using RSS—even if you don’t realize it! Podcast platforms still rely on it to distribute content.

Modern Alternatives & Solutions

While traditional RSS feeds are still around, new tools and services are making it easier than ever to consume content without relying on algorithmic feeds.

🔹 Feedly – A sleek, modern RSS reader with AI-powered filtering, making it easy to curate the content that matters to you.

🔹 Inoreader – A powerful RSS aggregator with advanced search, filtering, and integrations for power users.

🔹 Mailbrew – A service that turns RSS feeds, newsletters, and tweets into a single daily digest—great for people who want RSS but in a modern format.

🔹 Readwise Reader – A read-it-later app that integrates with RSS, highlighting and saving essential articles.

🔹 The Fediverse & ActivityPub—Decentralized platforms like Mastodon use ActivityPub, an open protocol that operates similarly to RSS. It enables users to follow blogs and social accounts without a central authority.

I only discovered some of these while researching this post. I hope to try them all out in the coming months. I will let you know what I find.

This site has an RSS feed. Why not try one of the above and make my feed your first connection?

Drupal and WordPress still natively support RSS, and newer content platforms like Substack, Ghost, and Medium have either integrated RSS or built their own syndication solutions.

What This Means for Drupal and Content Management

Drupal’s history with RSS reminds us that the web once embraced open content syndication. While RSS never entirely disappeared, it was deprioritized in favor of platform-centric publishing models designed to keep users locked in.

But what if that’s changing? With more people looking for self-hosted content solutions, federated platforms, and direct subscription models, RSS (or something similar) could see a resurgence.

Accessibility and the Role of RSS

RSS was—and still is—an accessible way to consume content. Unlike social media feeds cluttered with autoplay videos, ads, and distractions, RSS readers offer:

✔ Better readability – Many RSS readers allow users to customize text size, contrast, and font styles for a more accessible reading experience.

✔ No algorithmic noise – Users with cognitive disabilities or attention challenges can consume content without being bombarded by engagement-driven distractions.

✔ Support for screen readers – Most RSS feeds output clean, structured data, making them easier to navigate with assistive technologies.

As accessibility and digital inclusivity become more significant priorities, RSS has a unique advantage—it delivers pure content free from external interference.

Would You Use RSS Again?

Could RSS become a mainstream content distribution tool once more? While it may not replace social media, it could find new life as part of the open web movement.

What do you think? Would you use RSS today if it became more accessible? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or let me know how you follow content outside of social media.