You don't need Twitter, Instagram, Facebook for news | Vimoh

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their experience of taking a break from social media for over five months and discusses the common concern that social media is the only way to stay updated on news. The speaker explains how RSS feeds, tools like InoReader, and offline methods like newspapers can provide news without relying on social media. Emphasizing the drawbacks of social media platforms' manipulation, the speaker encourages the audience to reclaim their time and stay informed using alternative methods, advocating for a healthier, less dependent approach to news consumption.

Takeaways

• 😀 Taking a break from social media can be beneficial, as experienced by the speaker after 5 months of staying away from it.
• 😀 Many people believe that social media is the only way to stay updated with news, but this is not true.
• 😀 Before social media, people accessed news through other platforms like RSS feeds and desktop tools like Google Reader and Bloglines.
• 😀 RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a technology that allows people to stay informed without relying on social media.
• 😀 Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook use existing infrastructures to trap users within their ecosystems, making it hard to leave.
• 😀 By using RSS feed readers like Inoreader or desktop apps like Raven Reader, one can stay updated with news without being on social media.
• 😀 Inoreader is a web-based RSS feed reader that automatically updates with the latest news from various sources, providing an efficient alternative to social media.
• 😀 RSS feeds can be added manually or automatically to feed readers, allowing users to track news updates from their favorite websites.
• 😀 A major advantage of RSS feeds is that they don’t require sharing personal information like social media platforms do, thus respecting privacy.
• 😀 While social media companies collect personal information to show targeted ads, RSS readers respect user privacy and provide information without such interruptions.
• 😀 The process of using RSS feeds is simple, and once you start using them, you can easily stay informed without spending time on social media.

Q & A

Why did the speaker decide to quit social media?

The speaker quit social media for personal reasons, aiming to escape the trap of constant scrolling and the overwhelming presence of ads. He believes that social media is designed to keep people hooked, making it difficult to manage time effectively.

What is the main concern people have about leaving social media?

The main concern people have is that they won't be able to access news without social media. Many feel that following news channels or influencers on platforms like Twitter or Facebook is the only way to stay informed.

How does the speaker challenge the idea that social media is the only way to get news?

The speaker explains that even before social media, people had other ways to stay updated on the news. He emphasizes that the technology behind social media, like RSS feeds, existed long before and can still be used to gather information today.

What is RSS, and how does it work?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It is a technology that allows users to receive updates from multiple sources, like news websites and blogs, without having to visit each site individually. RSS feeds can be aggregated in tools like InoReader or RavenReader.

What tools does the speaker recommend for staying informed without social media?

The speaker recommends InoReader and RavenReader as excellent tools for following news via RSS feeds. These tools allow users to subscribe to various sources and stay updated without the need for social media.

What is the advantage of using RSS readers over social media platforms?

The advantage of using RSS readers is that they do not require sharing personal information, unlike social media platforms that collect data to serve targeted ads. RSS readers also provide a more streamlined and less distracting way to access news.

How does the speaker stay informed using InoReader?

The speaker uses InoReader to follow multiple news sources by subscribing to their RSS feeds. He can read updates directly from these sources without needing to interact with social media, allowing him to stay informed efficiently.

Can you use RSS feeds with any website, and how does it work?

Yes, most websites that publish content can provide an RSS feed. By copying the RSS feed URL and pasting it into an RSS reader like InoReader or RavenReader, users can automatically receive updates from those sites.

What is the OPML feature in RSS readers, and how is it useful?

OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) is a feature that allows users to export and import multiple RSS subscriptions at once. This makes it easy to transfer entire lists of sources between different RSS readers without having to add each source manually.

What are the downsides of social media according to the speaker?

The speaker highlights that social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible, showing them ads based on personal data. This leads to time wasted on scrolling and a heightened sense of FOMO (fear of missing out).