Summary
- When it comes to consuming the news, it’s tempting to rely on social media platforms to stay informed.
- Unfortunately, closed-source algorithms, echo chambers, and bad actors can throw a wrench into your news reading experience.
- Here are 5 apps that can keep you up to date on current events, without all the algorithmic baggage.
These days, a growing number of us rely primarily on social media services to stay informed on current events, whether it be at the local, national, or international level. The temptation to remain comfortably within the confines of a potent algorithm is strong, and short-form multimedia is a convenient method of news delivery if there ever was one.
However, getting your news from TikTok, Reddit, X (née Twitter), et al. comes with some potentially serious drawbacks as well. Closed-source algorithms are nebulous and difficult to predict, it’s all too easy to enter an echo chamber without even realizing it, and bad actors aim to spread misinformation and disinformation across the web (and, increasingly, by means of artifical intelligence).
That’s where social media-free news services come into play: there are a growing number of handy apps out there that can keep you locked in on all the latest happenings, while providing relief from algorithmic purgatory in the process. Here are 5 news and news-adjacent apps that make me never want to log onto Facebook ever again.
Related
Say goodbye to algorithms with these 5 personal curation apps
If you’re feeling trapped and at the mercy of algorithms, consider switching to a dedicated Really Simple Syndication (RSS) app to subscribe to sites.
1
Ground News
Check blind spots in the coverage of events
Ground News, which is available both as a standalone app and as a web browser extension, is an excellent tool for fighting against bias, sensationalism, and misinformation. The service offers a useful birds-eye view of various topics and current events, showcasing news coverage across both sides of the political spectrum. From here, you can see the percentage of publications that have covered a story, analyze the framing of current events, and identify blind spots in reporting. Ground News is a free app, though you’ll need to spring for the Pro or Premium subscription tiers to access many of the service’s most useful tools.
Related
I use these 5 aesthetically pleasing apps to keep life beautiful
Curating a set of aesthetically pleasing iPhone apps can go a long way in elevating your environment’s digital ambiance.
2
PressReader
Browse for newspapers and magazines the digital way
PressReader is home to over 7,000 publications from over 120 countries, offering access to both newspapers and magazines. The app makes it easy to discover content from sources both familiar and new, while presenting the news in all its traditional print view glory. If you enjoy the perks of reading the news electronically, but you aren’t a fan of mobile-style user interfaces, then PressReader offers a happy medium with its highlighting of print covers and magazine artwork. The app is free to get started, but requires a paid Premium subscription in order to access the full catalog of publications and outlets.
Related
These 5 Android bookmarking apps help keep my digital life organized
The Android app marketplace is filled with high quality bookmarking apps — these are the ones that offer the best experience.
3
Flipboard
Curate your own magazine of topics and themes
Flipboard is a highly customizable news aggregation service that lets you follow not only publications, but also topics on a broader level. You can collect articles and save them to your own custom Flipboard Magazine, allowing you to reference stories and news posts at a later date. The app offers a ton of discovery tools for finding new sources of information, while incorporating social media-esque ‘follow’ and hashtagging systems into the fold. Flipboard is entirely free to download and install, and it provides access to a curated selection of content from its in-house editorial team.
Related
5 e-reader apps that are secretly way better than Kindle
Tired of the same old e-reader apps offered by big tech giants? Consider trying out one of these excellent indie offerings instead.
4
Substack
Read news stories from independent voices
Substack is a relatively new media app that has been growing in popularity in recent times. With access to written blogs, short-form video clips, live streams, podcasts, and more, the service has proven particularly popular with independent voices. Several high-profile public figures, media personalities, and investigative journalists now regularly publish onto Substack, which bodes well for the app’s future prospects. Substack is a free service, giving writers the ability to paywall newsletters and articles as they see fit. Even without spending a dime, there is a wealth of free news content available on the app, which is perfect for getting started with.
Related
5 apps that keep me sane in our current nightmare world
The world is an unpredictable place, but these 5 iPhone apps help keep me grounded and at ease.
5
Medium
Follow the news, sign up for newsletters, and discover topics
Medium has long been a go-to platform for independent voices, including journalists, reporters, and content creators. Similar to Substack, Medium makes it easy to follow writers and keep up with their latest publishes in real time. The app is filled with news-related content, and email-based newsletter support is baked right in as well. Medium is free to download and install, with plenty of free content available from the get-go. From here, you can choose to monetarily support the writers you appreciate the most, or opt for Medium membership for unlimited access across the board.
Related
5 default iPhone apps I ditched as soon as I tried these alternatives
Apple’s native suite of in-box apps are serviceable, but third-party developers have, in many instances, crafted superior experiences.
