Start page replaces algorithms with a self-curated feed

A How-To Geek editor built a personal start page using Start.me and RSS feeds to avoid algorithm-driven social feeds; after two weeks he reported a large drop in compulsive social media scrolling.

Nick Lewis is an editor at How-To Geek and a long-time tinkerer who runs self-hosted services and DIY projects. He wanted a way to keep up with topics he cares about without algorithmic sorting. To do that, he set up a personal start page that aggregates chosen sources and RSS feeds. He used Start.me after testing other options and has used the page for a bit over two weeks. Key details: - The author has a background in programming and runs self-hosted services such as media and game servers on platforms like Proxmox. - He tested third-party start-page services including Protopage and Start.me and ultimately chose Start.me for its cleaner interface. - Setup involved pre-selecting interests, signing in (the author used Google for convenience), and adding RSS feeds such as NASA plus about a dozen other feeds. - After roughly two weeks of use, he reported that his compulsive social-media scrolling decreased noticeably. - He noted two main limitations: start pages tend to lag on viral items compared with social apps, and they do not provide the social features that drive community conversations. - The article also mentions self-hosting alternatives (for example, Homepage or Glance) and that the free Start.me plan allows up to three pages; a community menu includes many predesigned pages. Summary: The personal start page helped the author focus on selected topics and reduced time spent on algorithm-driven feeds while keeping news relevant to his interests. He also reported trade-offs, including slower coverage of viral content and no built-in social interaction. Undetermined at this time.