RSS was supposed to be dead. Google Reader shut down in 2013. Social media took over. But in 2026, RSS is quietly resurging.
What Changed
Three things killed RSS the first time:
- Complexity - RSS readers were clunky, technical, intimidating
- Social media - Twitter and Facebook were easier, more social
- Google Reader shutdown - Removed the default choice for millions
But those same factors are now driving RSS back:
- Simplicity - New readers like any-feeds are dead simple
- Algorithm fatigue - People are tired of being manipulated
- Platform instability - Twitter collapsed, Reddit charged for API access
Why Developers Are Coming Back First
Developers never fully left RSS. They kept using it for:
- Release notes and changelogs
- Technical blogs without Medium paywalls
- GitHub repo updates
- Hacker News feeds
But now they are recommending it to non-technical friends. Because RSS solves problems that got worse:
Problem 1: Algorithmic feeds hide what you want to see Twitter shows you engagement bait. RSS shows you what you subscribed to.
Problem 2: Platforms die or get acquired Twitter became X. Reddit killed third-party apps. RSS feeds cannot be bought or killed.
Problem 3: Privacy erosion Social media tracks everything. RSS readers do not track at all.
Problem 4: Notification overload Social media interrupts you constantly. RSS waits until you are ready.
The New RSS Stack
Old RSS (2013): Clunky desktop apps, manual OPML imports, zero mobile support.
New RSS (2026):
- any-feeds - Browser-based, instant subscribe, supports newsletters/YouTube/podcasts
- NetNewsWire - Native iOS/Mac app, iCloud sync
- Feedly - Team collaboration, AI summaries (if you want them)
- Miniflux - Self-hosted, minimal, fast
No technical knowledge required. Add a feed, start reading.
Who Is Using RSS Now
Indie hackers - Following competitors, tracking trends, no algorithm bias
Writers - Reading widely without social media rabbit holes
Researchers - Monitoring journals, preprints, arxiv feeds
Marketers - Tracking industry news without missing key signals
Normal people tired of algorithm manipulation - Just want to read what they chose
The Quiet Part
RSS is not coming back with hype or VC funding. It is coming back because:
- Platforms got worse
- Privacy matters more
- People want control
- The tech finally got simple
No one is writing thinkpieces about the RSS renaissance. They are just using it.
How to Start
- Pick a reader (any-feeds is free and simple)
- Add 5 feeds (blogs, Substacks, YouTube channels)
- Check once a day for a week
- Notice you read more and stress less
- Add more feeds or remove ones you skip
RSS is not dead. It was just waiting for platforms to get bad enough that people remembered why it existed.
Try it: any-feeds.com