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RSS Feeds Integration Guide

Display news, blogs, recipes, and family-friendly content from across the web on your FamilyCast display.

What are RSS Feeds?​

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a web feed format that allows websites to publish frequently updated content in a standardized format. FamilyCast can display RSS feed content on your family display, automatically updating as new content is published.

Perfect for families who want:

  • Morning news briefings
  • Recipe inspiration
  • Kids' educational content
  • Local school and community updates
  • Parenting tips and advice
  • Family activity ideas

Use Cases​

Morning Family Dashboard:

  • Local weather forecast
  • School lunch menus
  • News headlines (kid-safe)
  • Today's family schedule

Kitchen Display:

  • Recipe blogs (dinner ideas, meal prep)
  • Cooking tips and techniques
  • Grocery deals and coupons
  • Nutrition and healthy eating

Kids' Learning Corner:

  • Educational news (Newsela, Time for Kids)
  • Science and nature facts
  • Book recommendations
  • Learning activities and crafts

Family Room Display:

  • Parenting blogs and advice
  • Local community events
  • Sports team updates
  • Family movie reviews

Homework Helper:

  • Educational resources
  • Study tips and strategies
  • School announcements
  • Assignment reminders

Safety First: Kid-Friendly Content​

Important: Not all RSS feeds are appropriate for children. FamilyCast provides tools to help ensure safe content.

Content Safety Guidelines​

Before adding any feed:

  1. Review feed content - Read several recent posts
  2. Check for mature topics - News feeds may include violence, politics, adult themes
  3. Test before displaying - Preview feed in FamilyCast before showing to kids
  4. Monitor regularly - Check what's being displayed weekly

Recommended Safe Sources:

  • Educational sites (.edu domains)
  • Kids' news services
  • Family-focused blogs
  • School and library feeds
  • Trusted parenting sites

Potentially Unsafe Sources:

  • General news sites (may show graphic content)
  • Political blogs
  • Unmoderated community feeds
  • Unvetted social media conversions

Content Filtering​

Available in all plans

FamilyCast allows you to filter RSS content to keep displays kid-safe:

Exclude Filters: Hide items containing specific words:

  • Politics, violence, profanity
  • Mature topics
  • Controversial subjects

Example Configuration:

Exclude Keywords: politics, violence, crime, election, lawsuit, scandal

This helps filter out inappropriate content from general news feeds.

Family-Friendly Feed Suggestions​

News & Current Events (Kid-Safe)​

Newsela

  • URL: Check Newsela website for RSS options
  • Description: Current events written at different reading levels
  • Age: Grades 2-12
  • Topics: Science, history, current events, literacy

Time for Kids

  • URL: https://www.timeforkids.com/feed/
  • Description: News for elementary and middle school students
  • Age: K-6
  • Topics: World news, science, entertainment, sports

CNN 10 (formerly CNN Student News)

  • URL: Check CNN website for RSS
  • Description: 10-minute daily news show for teens
  • Age: Middle and high school
  • Topics: Daily news digest, current events

Smithsonian TweenTribune

  • URL: Check TweenTribune website
  • Description: Current events and learning
  • Age: Grades 3-8
  • Topics: Science, history, culture, current events

Local Weather​

Weather.gov Local Forecast

  • URL: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=YOUR_LAT&lon=YOUR_LON&FcstType=rss
  • Description: Official NOAA weather forecasts
  • Safe: Yes (weather only)
  • Updates: Every few hours

Local News Weather Feeds

  • Check your local news station's website
  • Most have separate weather RSS feeds
  • Generally safe (weather-only content)

Parenting & Family​

Scary Mommy

  • URL: https://www.scarymommy.com/feed/
  • Description: Honest parenting humor and advice
  • Age: Parents
  • Topics: Parenting, family life, humor

Parents Magazine

  • URL: https://www.parents.com/feed/
  • Description: Parenting tips and advice
  • Age: Parents
  • Topics: Pregnancy, babies, toddlers, kids, teens

Today's Parent

  • URL: https://www.todaysparent.com/feed/
  • Description: Canadian parenting resource
  • Age: Parents
  • Topics: Family activities, recipes, parenting advice

Cool Mom Picks

  • URL: https://coolmompicks.com/feed/
  • Description: Product reviews and family lifestyle
  • Age: Parents
  • Topics: Products, gear, activities, gifts

Recipes & Cooking​

AllRecipes

  • URL: https://www.allrecipes.com/rss/daily-inspiration/
  • Description: Daily recipe inspiration
  • Safe: Yes (recipes only)
  • Topics: Dinner, desserts, quick meals

Budget Bytes

  • URL: https://www.budgetbytes.com/feed/
  • Description: Affordable recipes with cost breakdowns
  • Safe: Yes
  • Topics: Budget-friendly cooking, meal prep

The Pioneer Woman

  • URL: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/feed/
  • Description: Family-friendly recipes and ranch life
  • Safe: Yes
  • Topics: Comfort food, baking, family dinners

Damn Delicious (Note: name may not be school-appropriate)

  • URL: https://damndelicious.net/feed/
  • Description: Easy, delicious recipes
  • Safe: Yes (content is family-friendly)
  • Topics: Quick meals, one-pot dinners

Kids' Cooking:

Super Healthy Kids

  • URL: https://www.superhealthykids.com/feed/
  • Description: Healthy recipes kids will actually eat
  • Safe: Yes
  • Topics: Kid-friendly meals, healthy snacks

Kids' Education & Learning​

NASA for Students

  • URL: Check NASA website for student RSS feeds
  • Description: Space news for students
  • Age: K-12
  • Topics: Space, astronomy, STEM

National Geographic Kids

  • URL: Check NatGeo Kids website
  • Description: Animals, science, and nature
  • Age: Elementary
  • Topics: Wildlife, environment, science

Highlights for Kids

  • URL: Check Highlights website
  • Description: Stories, activities, and fun facts
  • Age: 6-12
  • Topics: Learning activities, stories, puzzles

Scholastic News

  • URL: Check Scholastic website for RSS
  • Description: Educational news and activities
  • Age: K-8
  • Topics: Current events, literacy, learning

Books & Reading​

Common Sense Media Book Reviews

  • URL: Check CommonSenseMedia.org
  • Description: Age-appropriate book reviews
  • Safe: Yes (curated content)
  • Topics: Book recommendations by age

Nerdy Book Club

  • URL: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/feed/
  • Description: Children's and YA book recommendations
  • Age: Teachers, parents, kids
  • Topics: Book reviews, reading lists

Sports (Kid-Focused)​

ESPN for Kids (if available)

  • Check for kid-specific sports feeds
  • Age-appropriate sports news

Local Youth Sports Organizations

  • Little League updates
  • AYSO soccer news
  • School sports calendars

School & Local Community​

Your Child's School

  • Most schools have RSS feeds for:
    • Announcements
    • Lunch menus
    • Calendar events
    • School newsletter

Local Library

  • Event calendars
  • New book arrivals
  • Storytime schedules
  • Teen programs

Parks & Recreation

  • Activity schedules
  • Program registration
  • Facility closures
  • Community events

Local Museums

  • Family programs
  • Special exhibits
  • Free admission days
  • Educational workshops

Setting Up RSS Feeds​

Step 1: Find Your RSS Feed URL​

Most websites with regularly updated content offer RSS feeds:

Common Locations:

  • Look for RSS icon (📰 or orange wave icon)
  • Check website footer for "RSS" or "Feed" links
  • Add /feed, /rss, or /feed.xml to blog URLs
  • Check site's "Subscribe" page

Testing Feed URLs:

  1. Paste URL into browser
  2. Should see XML content (not formatted webpage)
  3. Look for <rss> or <feed> tags at the top
  4. Verify content appears recent
  5. Check first few items for appropriateness

Example Feed URLs:

  • https://www.timeforkids.com/feed
  • https://www.budgetbytes.com/feed/
  • https://www.superhealthykids.com/feed/
  • https://yourschool.edu/news/feed/

Step 2: Add RSS Feed to FamilyCast​

  1. Navigate to Content Sources → Integrations
  2. Click Add Integration
  3. Select RSS Feed
  4. Enter feed details:

Required Fields:

  • Feed URL: Full RSS feed URL
  • Name: Descriptive name (e.g., "Recipe Ideas", "School News")

Optional Fields:

  • Priority: Display order (0 = highest, default: 0)
  • Max Items: How many items to cache (default: 20)
  • Update Interval: Fetch frequency in seconds (default: 300 = 5 minutes)
  1. Click Test Feed to verify connection
  2. Review content preview - Check for appropriate content
  3. Click Save

Step 3: Configure Content Filters (Recommended)​

For general news feeds, set up content filters:

  1. After saving feed, click Edit Filters
  2. Add Exclude Keywords: 
    politics, election, violence, crime, murder, assault,
    scandal, lawsuit, controversial, explicit
  3. Add custom keywords based on your family's preferences
  4. Save filters

Step 4: Configure Display Settings​

Update Interval:

  • 5 minutes (300 sec): Weather, local news
  • 15 minutes (900 sec): Recipe blogs, parenting tips
  • 30 minutes (1800 sec): School announcements
  • 60 minutes (3600 sec): Book reviews, seasonal content

Max Items:

  • 5-10 items: School news, weather
  • 15-20 items: Recipe blogs, parenting tips (recommended)
  • 25-50 items: Only for comprehensive news feeds

Priority:

  • 0: Most important (school announcements, weather)
  • 50: Regular content (recipes, tips)
  • 100: Optional content (entertainment, extras)

Adding RSS Feeds to Layouts​

Method 1: RSS Content Area​

  1. Open Layout Editor
  2. Add content area to canvas
  3. Set Content Type to "RSS"
  4. Select your RSS feed from Content Source
  5. Configure display options:
    • Display Style: Ticker, list, cards, full
    • Items to Show: How many items visible at once
    • Rotation Speed: How long each item shows (recommend 10-15 sec for reading with kids)
  6. Preview to verify content appropriateness
  7. Save layout

Method 2: Multiple Feed Rotation​

Display multiple RSS feeds in rotation:

  1. Create content area
  2. Add multiple RSS feeds as sources
  3. Set rotation interval (e.g., 15 seconds per feed)
  4. Feeds alternate automatically
  5. Use priority to control order

Example: Morning Dashboard

Feed 1: Weather (Priority 0) - 15 seconds
Feed 2: School News (Priority 1) - 15 seconds
Feed 3: Daily Recipe (Priority 2) - 15 seconds
Rotation: 45 seconds total, then repeats

Display Styles​

Ticker Style​

Appearance:

  • Scrolling text across bottom or side
  • Continuous horizontal scroll
  • Classic news ticker look

Best For:

  • Weather updates
  • School announcements
  • Quick headlines
  • Date/time/temperature combo

Configuration:

Display Style: Ticker
Scroll Speed: Slow (kids need time to read)
Direction: Left-to-right
Height: 80-120px (larger text for kids)
Font Size: 20-24px

Family Example:

  • Position: Bottom of screen
  • Content: "Today's lunch: Pizza and salad • High: 72°F • Soccer practice 4pm"
  • Scrolls continuously
  • Large, readable text

List Style​

Appearance:

  • Vertical list of headlines
  • One headline per line
  • Clean, readable format

Best For:

  • Recipe lists ("This Week's Dinners")
  • School announcements
  • Chore lists
  • Activity schedules

Configuration:

Display Style: List
Items Visible: 5-7
Font Size: 22-28px (readable from across room)
Line Height: 1.6
Item Duration: 8-12 seconds each

Family Example:

  • Position: Side panel (40% width)
  • Content: School events this week
  • Shows: 6 items at once
  • Rotates every 10 seconds
  • Color-coded by importance

Card Style​

Appearance:

  • Individual cards with image
  • Title + excerpt + metadata
  • Visual, magazine-style layout

Best For:

  • Recipe ideas with photos
  • Book recommendations with covers
  • Activity suggestions with images
  • Learning content with visuals

Configuration:

Display Style: Cards
Cards Per Row: 1-2 (larger for visibility)
Image Size: Large
Show Excerpt: Yes (2-3 lines)
Card Duration: 15-20 seconds (time to read and discuss)

Family Example:

  • Position: Main content area (70%)
  • Content: "Dinner Ideas for the Week"
  • Shows: Recipe photo + title + prep time
  • Rotates every 18 seconds
  • Large, appetizing photos

Full Content Style​

Appearance:

  • Single article at a time
  • Full headline, content, image
  • Immersive reading experience

Best For:

  • Educational content (read together)
  • Recipe of the day
  • Family announcement
  • Learning article

Configuration:

Display Style: Full Content
Content Lines: 8-12 lines
Image Position: Top
Font Size: 24-32px (very readable)
Duration: 30-45 seconds (time to read as family)
Transitions: Slow fade

Family Example:

  • Position: Full screen
  • Content: "Science fact of the day"
  • Shows: Large image + full text
  • Stays for 40 seconds
  • Family reads together

Example Layouts​

Morning Family Dashboard​

Configuration:

Top Section (20%): Weather ticker
Middle Section (60%): Today's schedule + school announcements (list)
Bottom Section (20%): Recipe of the day (card)

Feeds:

  1. Weather.gov RSS - Ticker style, update every 5 min
  2. School announcements - List style, update every 30 min
  3. Budget Bytes recipes - Card style, update every 60 min

Priority:

  • Weather: 0 (always shows)
  • School: 1 (important)
  • Recipe: 2 (nice to have)

Kitchen Recipe Display​

Configuration:

Full screen: Recipe cards
Rotation: Every 20 seconds

Feeds:

  1. Budget Bytes (weeknight dinners)
  2. Super Healthy Kids (kid-friendly meals)
  3. AllRecipes (family favorites)

Display:

  • Large recipe photos
  • Recipe title + prep time
  • Star rating visible
  • 20 seconds per recipe
  • Cycles through 15 recipes

Kids' Learning Corner​

Configuration:

Left Panel (60%): Educational article (full content)
Right Panel (40%): Fun facts list

Feeds:

  1. Newsela kid-friendly news - Full content, 45 sec each
  2. NASA space facts - List style, 12 sec each
  3. National Geographic Kids - Rotating content

Safety:

  • All feeds pre-approved by parents
  • Content filters enabled
  • Reviewed weekly
  • Educational focus

Homework Helper​

Configuration:

Top: Today's assignments (list)
Middle: Study tips article (full content)
Bottom: School calendar (ticker)

Feeds:

  1. School assignment RSS
  2. Study tips blog
  3. School calendar feed

Features:

  • Homework due dates highlighted
  • Study tips rotate
  • Test reminders appear

Best Practices​

Content Selection​

Choose Feeds That:

  • Update regularly (daily or more)
  • Are age-appropriate for your children
  • Have consistent, quality content
  • Include engaging images when possible
  • Match your family's interests and values

Avoid Feeds That:

  • Contain mature or controversial content
  • Update rarely (stale content)
  • Have inconsistent quality
  • Include advertisements or clickbait
  • Require login/paywall

Safety Practices​

Before Adding Any Feed:

  1. Review personally - Read through at least 10 recent posts
  2. Check for sensitive topics - Look for politics, violence, mature themes
  3. Test feed - Run for a week with adult supervision
  4. Set up filters - Add exclude keywords for questionable terms
  5. Monitor regularly - Check displayed content weekly

Red Flags:

  • ⚠️ General news sites (may show graphic content)
  • ⚠️ Unmoderated blogs or forums
  • ⚠️ Feeds with comment sections visible
  • ⚠️ Political or controversial topic feeds
  • ⚠️ Sites with ads or pop-ups

Safe Bets:

  • ✅ .edu domains (schools, universities)
  • ✅ Kids' news services (Time for Kids, Newsela)
  • ✅ Recipe blogs focused on family meals
  • ✅ Your child's school official feeds
  • ✅ Local library and museum feeds

Age-Appropriate Configuration​

Elementary Age (5-10):

Display Style: Cards (large images)
Font Size: 28-32px (very large)
Duration: 20-30 seconds (time to read slowly)
Content: Picture books, simple recipes, weather
Filters: Strict (exclude most news)

Middle School (11-13):

Display Style: List or cards
Font Size: 22-26px
Duration: 15-20 seconds
Content: Educational news, study tips, activities
Filters: Moderate (exclude politics, violence)

High School (14-18):

Display Style: List or full content
Font Size: 20-24px
Duration: 12-18 seconds
Content: Current events, college prep, deeper learning
Filters: Light (exclude explicit content)

Adults/Parents:

Display Style: Any
Font Size: 18-22px
Duration: 10-15 seconds
Content: News, recipes, parenting, lifestyle
Filters: Minimal or custom

Multiple Feed Strategy​

Priority System:

0-25: Critical info (weather, school closures, urgent)
26-50: Important (school news, schedules, assignments)
51-75: Helpful (recipes, tips, activities)
76-100: Optional (entertainment, extras)

Balanced Morning Dashboard:

1. Weather (Priority 0): Every 5 min, 5 items
2. School news (Priority 10): Every 30 min, 10 items
3. Recipe ideas (Priority 50): Every 60 min, 8 items
4. Parenting tips (Priority 75): Every 120 min, 5 items

Total: 4 feeds, good variety, not overwhelming

Reading Time Considerations​

Kids reading speeds:

  • Early readers (K-2): 60-100 words per minute
  • Elementary (3-5): 100-150 words per minute
  • Middle school (6-8): 150-250 words per minute
  • Adults: 200-300 words per minute

Display duration formula:

Word Count ÷ Reading Speed × 60 = Seconds needed

Example:

  • Headline: 10 words
  • Slowest reader: 60 wpm
  • Time needed: (10 ÷ 60) × 60 = 10 seconds
  • Recommended: 15 seconds (buffer for comprehension)

Update Frequency Guidelines​

Weather:

  • Update every 5-15 minutes
  • Critical for daily planning

School News:

  • Update every 30-60 minutes
  • Important but not urgent

Recipes/Tips:

  • Update every 1-4 hours
  • Content doesn't change rapidly

Educational Content:

  • Update daily or weekly
  • Evergreen content

Content Filtering​

Available in all FamilyCast plans

Exclude Keywords​

Prevent items containing specific words from displaying:

Configuration:

  1. Edit RSS feed
  2. Go to Filters section
  3. Add Exclude Keywords (comma-separated): 
    politics, election, vote, senator, congress, republican, democrat,
    violence, murder, assault, shooting, crime, arrest, lawsuit,
    scandal, controversy, protest, riot,
    explicit, mature, adult, graphic,
    divorce, affair, addiction
  4. Save changes

How It Works:

  • FamilyCast checks each RSS item's title and description
  • If any exclude keyword is found, item is skipped
  • Filtering happens before display (invisible to family)
  • Case-insensitive matching

Testing Filters:

  1. Add feed without filters
  2. Preview content for 24 hours
  3. Note any inappropriate terms
  4. Add those terms to exclude list
  5. Verify filtered content is appropriate

Include Keywords (Optional)​

Only show items containing specific words:

Use Cases:

  • Show only recipes tagged "family-friendly"
  • Show only school news about your child's grade
  • Show only local events in your city

Example:

Include Keywords: family, kid-friendly, children, parenting

Note: Include filters are more restrictive—use carefully.

Custom Filter Strategies​

For General News Feeds:

Exclude: politics, election, violence, crime, scandal,
         controversial, graphic, mature, adult, lawsuit

For Food Blogs:

Exclude: alcohol, wine, beer, cocktail, liquor (if desired)
Include: family, kid-friendly, healthy (if desired)

For Local News:

Exclude: crime, murder, assault, arrest, violence
Include: school, education, family, community, event

Troubleshooting​

Feed Not Updating​

Symptoms:

  • Content shows old items
  • New posts don't appear
  • "Last updated" timestamp is old

Solutions:

  1. Check Feed URL:

    • Paste feed URL in browser
    • Verify XML loads (not error page)
    • Feed may have moved or been removed
    • Contact website if feed is broken

  2. Verify Update Interval:

    • May be set too long (e.g., 4 hours)
    • Reduce to 5-15 minutes for news
    • Force manual refresh in feed settings
    • Click "Refresh Now" button

  3. Review Error Logs:

    • Go to feed settings
    • Check "Last Fetch Status"
    • Read error message
    • Common errors:
      • 404: Feed removed
      • 403: Access blocked
      • Timeout: Slow server

  4. Test Feed Connection:

    • Click "Test Connection" in feed settings
    • Verify successful response
    • Check returned items
    • Ensure feed has recent content

  5. API/Rate Limits:

    • Some feeds limit how often you can fetch
    • Increase update interval if hitting limits
    • Contact feed provider if blocked

No Content Displaying​

Symptoms:

  • Feed connected but nothing shows
  • Blank content area
  • Error message on display

Solutions:

  1. Verify Content Source:

    • Layout has RSS feed assigned?
    • Correct feed selected?
    • Content type set to "RSS"?
    • Edit layout to confirm

  2. Check Feed Items:

    • Does feed have content?
    • View feed XML in browser
    • Count how many <item> entries
    • Some feeds may be empty

  3. Review Feed Status:

    • Is feed active (not disabled)?
    • Check toggle in feed settings
    • Enable if disabled

  4. Check Filters:

    • Are filters too restrictive?
    • Temporarily disable filters
    • Test if content appears
    • Adjust filter keywords

  5. Preview Layout:

    • Use layout preview before deploying
    • Check for JavaScript errors (browser console)
    • Verify display device has internet connection

Inappropriate Content Showing​

Symptoms:

  • Feed displays mature or sensitive content
  • Kids see something concerning
  • Content doesn't match expectations

Immediate Actions:

  1. Disable Feed Immediately:

    • Go to feed settings
    • Toggle "Active" to OFF
    • Content stops showing immediately

  2. Review Displayed Content:

    • Check what was shown
    • Document inappropriate items
    • Determine if feed should be used at all

Long-Term Solutions:

  1. Add Content Filters:

    • List inappropriate words found
    • Add to Exclude Keywords
    • Test filters thoroughly

  2. Switch to Safer Feed:

    • Find alternative source
    • Use kid-specific news services
    • Avoid general news feeds

  3. Increase Monitoring:

    • Check displayed content daily
    • Set up alerts for new content
    • Review feeds weekly

  4. Curate Feed List:

    • Remove questionable feeds
    • Only use .edu and verified kid-safe sources
    • When in doubt, leave it out

Prevention:

  • Always preview feeds before displaying to kids
  • Start with strict filters
  • Use kid-specific news services
  • Monitor displayed content regularly
  • Keep exclude keyword list updated

Images Not Showing​

Symptoms:

  • Headlines appear but no images
  • Broken image placeholders
  • Inconsistent image display

Solutions:

  1. Check Feed Format:

    • Not all RSS feeds include images
    • View feed XML in browser
    • Look for <enclosure> or <media:content> tags
    • If no image tags, images won't display

  2. Image URL Issues:

    • Some feeds use relative URLs (won't load)
    • Image URLs may expire
    • HTTPS/HTTP mixed content issues
    • Try different feed from same source

  3. Display Settings:

    • Verify "Show Images" is enabled in layout
    • Check image size settings (may be too small)
    • Allow time for images to load on first display
    • Slow internet may delay image loading

  4. Alternative Solutions:

    • Use text-only display style
    • Switch to card style without images
    • Find feed with better image support
    • Add placeholder image for feed

Slow Performance​

Symptoms:

  • Feeds load slowly
  • Display feels sluggish
  • Content updates lag
  • Family notices delays

Solutions:

  1. Reduce Max Items:

    • Lower from 30 to 10-15
    • Less content to fetch and cache
    • Faster load times
    • Still enough variety

  2. Increase Update Interval:

    • Fetch less frequently
    • Reduces network usage
    • Improves performance
    • Content still fresh enough

  3. Optimize Display:

    • Reduce number of feeds (max 3-4 per layout)
    • Use simpler display styles (list vs. cards)
    • Reduce image sizes
    • Limit concurrent content sources

  4. Check Internet Speed:

    • Test internet speed at display location
    • Minimum 5 Mbps recommended
    • Upgrade internet if needed
    • Move display closer to WiFi router

  5. Device Performance:

    • Older devices may struggle
    • Close other apps on display device
    • Restart device weekly
    • Consider upgrading hardware

Content Not Kid-Friendly​

Problem: Feed occasionally shows questionable content despite filters

Solutions:

  1. Strengthen Filters:

    • Add more exclude keywords
    • Review what slipped through
    • Add variants of problematic terms
    • Test filters after updates

  2. Use Curated Sources:

    • Switch to kid-specific news (Time for Kids, Newsela)
    • Use .edu sources
    • Avoid general news feeds entirely
    • Stick to recipe, learning, and school feeds

  3. Manual Curation:

    • Create custom RSS feed with tools like RSS.app
    • Hand-pick articles to include
    • Update manually weekly
    • Complete control over content

  4. Whitelist Approach:

    • Instead of excluding bad terms, include only good terms
    • Example: Only show items with "kids", "family", "children"
    • More restrictive but safer
    • Less content variety

Advanced Configuration​

Multiple Display Zones​

Create different zones for different family members:

Family Room Layout:

Top Left (40%): Mom's recipe feeds
Top Right (30%): Dad's sports feeds
Bottom (30%): Kids' educational feeds

Configuration:

  • Each zone has own feeds
  • Separate priorities
  • Different update intervals
  • Age-appropriate content per zone

Time-Based Content​

Available in Growth and Premium plans

Display different feeds at different times:

Morning (6am-9am):

  • Weather forecast
  • School announcements
  • Breakfast recipes

Afternoon (3pm-6pm):

  • Homework tips
  • After-school activities
  • Dinner recipes

Evening (6pm-9pm):

  • Family activity ideas
  • Tomorrow's schedule
  • Relaxation content

Configuration:

  1. Create multiple layouts
  2. Schedule layouts by time of day
  3. Assign different feeds to each
  4. Automatic rotation

Custom RSS Parsing​

Premium plan only

For feeds with unusual formats:

Custom Field Mapping:

  • Map non-standard XML fields
  • Extract custom metadata
  • Parse special tags
  • Handle unique formats

Example:

Standard field: <title>
Your feed uses: <headline>
Custom mapping: headline → title

Contact support for custom parsing assistance.

Webhook Notifications​

Premium plan only

Get notified when specific content appears:

Use Cases:

  • School emergency alerts
  • Weather warnings
  • Important announcements

Configuration:

  1. Set up webhook URL
  2. Define trigger keywords
  3. Receive instant notification
  4. Take action (call school, prepare for weather)

Privacy & Safety​

Data Handling​

What FamilyCast Does:

  • Fetches RSS feed content from public URLs
  • Caches items temporarily (typically 24 hours)
  • Displays content on your family's devices
  • No personal data collected from feeds

What FamilyCast Doesn't Do:

  • Share your feed choices with third parties
  • Track what your family reads
  • Collect data from feed sources
  • Retain feed content long-term

Third-Party Content​

Important:

  • RSS feeds are controlled by external websites
  • FamilyCast cannot control source content
  • Content may change without notice
  • Sources may add inappropriate content at any time

Your Responsibility:

  • Review feeds regularly
  • Monitor displayed content
  • Update filters as needed
  • Remove problematic feeds immediately

Child Safety Recommendations​

Best Practices:

  1. Preview First: Always preview new feeds for 24-48 hours before showing to kids
  2. Start Strict: Begin with tight filters, relax if needed
  3. Use Kid Sources: Prefer kid-specific news and educational sites
  4. Regular Reviews: Check displayed content weekly
  5. Family Conversations: Discuss questionable content if it appears

Red Flags:

  • Content you wouldn't want kids to see
  • Political or controversial topics
  • Violence or mature themes
  • Inappropriate advertising
  • Unmoderated comments

When in Doubt: If you're unsure about a feed's appropriateness, don't add it. There are thousands of safe, family-friendly feeds available.

Next Steps​

Support​

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