change google chrome rss reader to live bookmarks

This of course triggered the usual enshitification tactics: cut off all access to content outside of heavily tracked and ad-ridden apps and (maybe) web “platforms”, kill off things like RSS feeds or API access that create goodwill and build community support but don’t directly have places to run ads, redesign the interface to deemphasize individual discussions in favor of TikTok-style algorithmic feeds and lots more ad space, and even alter the image host so that what were formerly direct image links now return a “light” web page with extra branding and (you guessed it) ad slots. With interest rates rising and the endless funding for web “startups” (Reddit’s almost 20 years old, it’s comical that they still have no path to profitability while also burning cash on unpopular NFT and AI experiments) going away, the metric most platforms are shooting for has gone from “number of users per month” to “number of interactions we can put ads on per month.”

If I remember right, they’ve already said (or at least implied it really seems like they had absolutely no implementation plans beyond “we want money now”) that RSS and JSON access to posts and feeds will be removed at the same time the API changes take effect.

Change google chrome rss reader to live bookmarks