The Internet and the Web, once vibrant tapestries of interconnected protocols, now face a pivotal moment. Foundational standards like RSS, E-mail, and RCS, which embody decentralization and user agency, find themselves navigating a landscape increasingly drawn to controlled platforms. Can these open web standards maintain relevance in the face of sleek, curated alternatives?
RSS: Forgotten Feast or Future Feed?
Remember RSS, the unassuming “Really Simple Syndication”? It empowered individuals to craft personalized newsfeeds, weaving together content from diverse sources without algorithmic interference. But as social media algorithms took center stage, RSS faded into the background.
Yet, a quiet revival could be underway. Independent news outlets, recognizing the importance of unfiltered distribution, are embracing RSS. Platforms like Flipboard and Feedly thrive on aggregated RSS feeds, demonstrating its continued value in a fragmented media landscape.
RSS also played a pivotal role in the birth of podcasts. By enabling independent distribution of audio content, it fostered a thriving ecosystem of diverse voices and niche interests. While platforms like Spotify now dominate podcast discovery, RSS remains the backbone of independent podcasting, ensuring freedom from platform control.
Email: The Enduring Workhorse in a Slack-ified World
Email, the internet’s ageless workhorse, stands as a testament to open communication. Its decentralized nature enables anyone, anywhere, to reach anyone else—no platform barriers required.
But collaboration platforms like Slack offer a tempting alternative, streamlining communication within closed ecosystems. While boasting improved organization and features, these platforms raise concerns about data privacy, data ownership and limited reach.
Email’s ability to connect individuals and businesses beyond platform walls remains unmatched. The challenge lies in striking a balance between user-friendly platforms and open accessibility.
RCS: Bridging the Messaging Divide
Rich Communication Services (RCS) promised to revitalize SMS, bringing modern features like file sharing and group chats to the ubiquitous messaging service. Yet, carrier fragmentation and uneven adoption hinder its widespread success. Meanwhile, messaging apps like WhatsApp offer similar capabilities within their own ecosystems.
Will RCS find its footing as a universal standard, or will it fade into obscurity as users gravitate towards closed-loop alternatives?
The answer depends on carriers, big tech companies and developers prioritizing interoperability and user choice. Apple’s latest roadmap for RCS might change the landscape, but that is yet to be seen.
Beyond the Binary: Coexistence or Compromise?
The rise of AI adds another layer of complexity to the open standards vs. closed ecosystems debate. Imagine powerful AI algorithms, trained on vast datasets within closed platforms, shaping our online experiences through personalized recommendations and content curation. While seemingly convenient, this raises concerns about algorithmic bias, echo chambers, and the potential for manipulation.
The future of the internet doesn’t have to be a binary choice between open standards and closed platforms. There’s room for both to coexist and complement each other. Platforms can offer convenience and innovation, while open standards ensure user control and accessibility.
With open standards, individuals retain control over their data and information access. AI tools operating on open platforms face greater scrutiny and transparency, mitigating the risk of bias and promoting diverse perspectives. Striking a balance between the convenience of platform-specific AI and the safeguards of open standards becomes crucial in an AI-powered future.
The key lies in finding a balance that supports innovation without sacrificing decentralization and user agency. The choices we make today will shape the internet’s trajectory for generations to come. Let’s choose wisely, fostering a digital landscape that empowers, informs, and connects us all—without boundaries or gatekeepers.
Featured Image generated by DALL-E 3.
Prompt: Interoperability and open standards in the Internet and the web in the style of Salvador Dali