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by simpixelated 479 days ago
The YouTube channel Technology Connections recently made a video [1] about this and used the term "Algorithmic Complacency" to encompass how many people would rather be fed content determined by their algo of choice than seek it out.

But for those who do want a return to the "Web", I think there are plenty of existing tools for this. RSS feeds allow you to follow independent blogs and websites. BlueSky and Mastadon can be used to curate a list of like minded people who will suggest other cool people or content to check out. YouTube has a Subscriptions tab that is not influenced by the algorithm.

That being said, I applaud anyone who wants to make the independent web more accessible and popular. We need alternatives to the infinite scroll fed to us by massive tech companies.

[1] https://youtu.be/QEJpZjg8GuA
3 comments
danmactough 479 days ago
Funny you should mention both RSS and BlueSky/Mastodon as a return to the web, since Dave Winer (who pioneered RSS) has written about how BlueSky/Mastodon etc. are very much NOT the web. http://scripting.com/2024/12/21.html

> Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon are the IBM, Microsoft and Apple of 2024. It's ridiculous if they think this is a web.

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simpixelated 478 days ago
Makes a lot of sense and I don't disagree. They're definitely not a return to the web and I probably misrepresented them that way in my post. I was mostly using them as examples of existing platforms where you can find content without being subjected to the algorithm's suggestions, if you choose to use the "following" or "subscribed" features instead of "Discover" or "For You".
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mcwhittemore 479 days ago
Thinking about why I've tended to avoid RSS, there is a consumption vs exploration divide in my mind that I feel RSS readers lean the wrong way on. That is probs an assumption I should challenge in my own thinking.
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simpixelated 478 days ago
At some point you have to stop exploring and actually consume what you've collected. I think that's one psychological trick of infinite scroll feeds... our minds naturally want to see what's next. Personally, I spend more time searching and saving things to my various lists instead of actually watching or reading what I've saved.
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mcwhittemore 479 days ago
How do you find new RSS feeds today? RSS readers is something I've never really loved. But I also haven't tried them in a while. I should probs go look at some RSS feed readers to try
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JohnFen 479 days ago
You should. An RSS reader has become my primary window into the web these days. It really improves the experience.
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