FAQ

1. Quantum Intel users can get results from multiple platforms and sources all at once, instead of having to query multiple platforms one by one. These include content not only in video form, but also as text and podcasts.
2. When searching for something on Google or Youtube, any search you carry out on Youtube becomes part of your "permanent record." Even if you are not logged in to Google, your device can usually be matched to you. This information not only influences what the algorithm shows you, it may also be passed on to third parties. By contrast, Quantum Intel allows you to effectively search platforms such as Youtube anonymously.
3. Unlike Youtube's search bar, QI's feed search and content search are separate.
4. Besides its general search functions, QI users can also search our 2 media libraries, for example by using criteria such as tags and languages. This allows users to filter out the infotainment videos, entertainment videos, vlogs and the like which make up most of the content on the Internet.
5. Quantum Intel allows users to view rankings of independent media content creators and platforms based on numbers of subscribers and/or followers, as well as based on the number of articles they have published within the past 30 days. Users can also view the rankings of creators whose feeds have specific hashtags.
6. Like all other platforms, Quantum Intel allows its users to follow specific feeds, but unlike, say, Youtube, we then combine these into one single feed which users can view chronologically. You can view this feed either on the Quantum Intel platform, or via Telegram on a customized channel we can help you set up. Click on "Library" then on "My Telegram Channel" on the left hand side to set this up. This is kind of like what you will find on X, except that QI shows articles, podcasts and videos instead of user posts. If you don't yet have a personal feed set up yet, you can also check out Quantum Intel's "QI" Feed. Content is available in multiple languages.

1. Google has two different search engines: one general search engine, and one search engine specifically for news (Google News). In the latter case, Google has a separate instance for each country and draws on a library of mainstream sources which it tracks for each of those countries.
2. Quantum Intel's search engine is more like the latter than the former, although it is much more granular than Google News, and draws on content from independent content creators instead of content from the mainstream media. Moreover, unlike Google News, Quantum Intel publishes the list of content creators included in its libraries. These content creators are journalists, key opinion leaders, political analysts and leading thinkers from various fields. They do include content creators producing political satire, but don't include creators producing primarily entertainment, which make up the bulk of content online.
3. Also unlike Google News, Quantum Intel allows users to find and follow feeds which are not yet in one of Quantum Intel's libraries. Users do not need to be logged in to follow feeds, but non logged in users are only able to access their customized feed locally.
4. Quantum Intel's libraries include both private RSS feeds and podcasts, as well as feeds, channels and blogs on sites such as Youtube, Substack, Rumble, Odysee, Bitchute, Telegram and Medium. Quantum Intel is also a wiki which depends on readers both to expand our libraries with new sources and to improve their searchability, for example by adding useful tags.
5. In our current beta version, our focus is on independent content from three language zones: English, French and German. While our libraries do also include some original feeds in 9 other languages (currently, in the order of frequency: Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, Czech and Swedish), the number of feeds in these nine languages is limited and by no means comprehensive. There are also a few translations of library feeds into additional languages such as Arabic or Indonesian. Users can, however, search, find and follow feeds in any language.
6. Though you won't find the BBC, CNN, Le Monde, RT or the China Daily in Quantum Intel's libraries, in view of its relevance to the alternative media space, in QI's Extended Library you will find for example Al Jazeera, which belongs to the Qatari government. It may be considered mainstream in Qatar, but it's not in the rest of the world. So we are not 100% consistent, though such exceptions are few. In this context it's important to keep in mind that all "creators" have varying degrees of independence, since most are dependent on some kind of support.
7. Quantum Intel can do general searches for content and creators on Youtube, Substack, Medium, some podcast platforms and most public RSS feeds. It cannot do general searches for content or creators on closed platforms like X, Facebook, VK, Rumble, Bitchute, Odysee or Telegram (they don't let us!). However, channels from the latter four platforms can be added manually, after which the content on these feeds then becomes searchable. To do this, click on "Request Manual Addition to Library." This is not possible for feeds on X, Facebook or VK. While content creators may opt to include links to feeds on those platforms, Quantum Intel does not support any content there.
8. Since many podcast platforms do not support external searches via API, some podcasts cannot be found directly. However, in 99% of cases there is a workaround for this: Apple's podcast aggregator. To use this workaround, go to podcast.apple.com and find the podcast's Apple ID. This is a 10 digit code preceded by the two letters "id" in the URL for the podcast. Copy these including the "id," check the Apple ID checkbox and paste this into the general searchbar. Then the podcast will show up as a standard QI feed.
9. Via Quantum Intel's search engine, you can search for any content creator on the supported platforms including those offering music videos, tutorials, vlogs and other types of entertainment or infotainment; however, as mentioned previously these are for the most part not included in Quantum Intel's content libraries.
10. Quantum Intel has two libraries of content creators and their content. The QI Library focuses on independent media reporting on politics, geopolitics, finance and current events as well as related analysis and commentary. The QI Extended Library includes additional creators focusing on specific areas such as health, history, interviews with public figures, psychology, engineering, genetics and science, as well as newsticker feeds which in some cases (like Russia's Pravda site) produce enormous numbers of daily posts. It also includes a few of the top serious infotainment channels like Kurzgesagt.
11. Quantum Intel depends on reader editors to help expand these libraries, by suggesting new content creators, by adding in missing information and by suggesting appropriate hashtags. Well thought through hashtags are an absolutely crucial component in making Quantum Intel's content useful. In the near future readers who have made at least 10 edit suggestions will be able to apply for editor rights after which their updates will display immediately. Authorized editors can update feeds and tags without needing to wait on approval. Provided they are logged in, those qualifying will see a notification if/when they qualify.
12. Content creators can create a profile and register a channel to take ownership of their feeds and manage them. They can use their profile as a portal providing access to their content on multiple platforms. Additional content creator functions are available via our partner Bitpatron.
13. Readers can use hashtags to search for feeds about specific topics.
14. Quantum Intel offers rankings of content creators by (a) subscriber numbers, (b) by the number of views in the past 30 days, and (c) numbers of articles published in the past 30 days. Note that not all types of data are available for all feeds. For example, the ranking by subscriber numbers doesn't include RSS feeds because they typically lack published follower numbers. Ranking by numbers of recent articles is only for RSS and Substack feeds.
15. While you can sometimes find links to X, VK, Tiktok, Instagram or Facebook channels on content creator profile pages, no content is indexed or supported.
16. Quantum Intel is both a content creator search engine and a content search engine. It allows users to search for specific content creators as well as to search for specific content. For example, you can search for "Mercola" under "content creators" as well as, say, "magnesium" under content. When searching for magnesium, you will probably find articles from Dr. Mercola as well as from other health-oriented feeds.
17. QI optionally allows you to store, search and review your own reading history. This history can be found in the Menu under "New History." There you can control this function, opting to either deactivate it, store this locally, or store this on the server. To use the server storage option, you must be logged in. This makes your history accessible from multiple devices.
18. QI supports private messaging with the content creators you support via our partner Bitpatron. Do you have a question for a CC whom you are supporting? QI will deliver it for you in encrypted form via Quantum Intel's encrypted messaging platform. Quantum Intel does not send copies of these messages to your email address or to the email address of the content creator, thus making sure that the contents of your messages remain out of the reach of Internet snoopers. On the upper left hand side of the CC's channel profile you will find a messaging icon.
19. QI offers an optional "News History" feature to logged in users who wish to be able to review and search their viewing history. This is news item-based rather than feed-based.
20. Besides offering users the ability to follow selected feeds and create a customized feed composed of content from those feeds, QI can also help users to create a private Telegram news channel and send the content of the user's customized feed to that channel.

1. This is easiest in Firefox. Just go to the Quantum Intel homepage, move your cursor to the URL bar and right click. There you will see an option to add Quantum Intel to your list of search engines.
2. In Chrome you need to go into Settings. There look for "Search engine" on the left side. Then select "Manage search engines and site search." Next to "Site search" select "Add." Add these settings:
   
   Search engine: Quantum Intel
   Shortcut: @qi
   URL: https://www.quantumintel.info/newsfeeds/search?type=content&kw=%s

If you click on "Today's News" or "QI-Library News," by default you will see the latest news in chronological order. This can be useful on occasion, but even without the extended library there are literally thousands of new items every day. It's too much for anyone.

Quantum Intel offers readers multiple tools to deal with this challenge:

1. Perhaps the most useful tool is to use hashtags. Quantum Intel has a very specific "hashtag strategy" designed to make hashtags useful. For example, you might choose #CurrentEvents. Or "Health." Hashtags will drastically reduce the size of the list. "FAQ for Editors & Supporters" below explains this in more detail.
2. Select several feeds to follow and read your own feed instead. This can be found in the Menu and is called "My Feed." Under that you can find "My Feed List" where you can manage the feeds you have followed.
3. Open up the QI-Library News, then search for certain key words connected to stories you are following.
4. Exclude the Extended Library from the feed you are viewing. The Extended Library includes news ticker sites, which produce an enormous number of items. Note however that most of the feeds dedicated to topics such as history, science, genetics or health are not in the core library. If you specify a particular hashtag, Extended Library feeds are included by default. This can be changed however.
5. In most cases, you can opt to specify "Text Articles Only." This will exclude content from platforms such as Youtube or Rumble, as well as most podcasts. This will also drastically reduce the size of the list.

Yes, you can. Once you have signed up as a content creator and established your ownership, Quantum Intel will create a channel for you. One channel can have multiple feeds attached to it. As a registered content creator, you can manage your information and hashtags without needing to submit them for approval. You can also create a Quantum Intel profile linking to all your feeds, including feeds on platforms like X or Facebook which Quantum Intel does not support. Readers visiting your profile page can browse through your content on supported platforms directly on your profile page.

First and foremost, use it to search for and follow content creators in the independent media sector which you like. You can follow any searchable feed, regardless of whether or not it is a Quantum Intel library feed.

For the Quantum Intel library, at this stage we are primarily focusing on non-fiction content creators publishing in English, German and French, but creators publishing in other languages are also welcome. In theory this can include anything which is not primarily entertainment, including various areas of scientific endeavor as well as satire. Content creators should ideally already have a publishing history and some following. For the moment we are trying to avoid travel vlogs, though we may consider including them if they have very large subscriber numbers. We may eventually create a separate travel library.

Second, tell us about any bugs you encounter. Feel free to also send us suggestions on how to improve the site, as well as on additional features and functions you would like to see.

Third, help other users find these content creators by becoming an editor!

Quantum Intel depends on reader editors to help expand our libraries, by suggesting new content creators, by adding in missing information and by suggesting appropriate hashtags. Well thought through hashtags are an absolutely crucial component in making Quantum Intel's content useful. At some point in the future this work can probably be delegated to AI, but at this point it is still manual and dependent on our editors.

There are five primary ways to contribute:

1. Once you have found a new feed you consider worth adding, use the "Add/Edit" function to add in missing information and appropriate hashtags. Your initial edits will require approval, but after 10 successful edits you will soon be able to apply for Editor status. Changes made by editors will appear immediately and will not require approval.
2. For feeds which are on partially supported platforms like Telegram or Odysee, you can fill out the needed information and request that they be added manually. Note that some podcasts which cannot be found via the standard search engine can be found by entering the podcast's Apple ID and clicking on the "Search Apple ID" checkbox.
3. Registered readers and editors can also contribute by suggesting adding or deleting hashtags for existing feeds.
4. Submit suggestions on how to improve and expand upon Quantum Intel's hashtag strategy, for example by defining new hashtags which cover a number of existing content creators.
5. Senior editors can directly add feeds to the QI Libraries, fix broken feeds and approve reader suggestions.

Quantum Intel's "hashtag strategy" is to make categories as narrow as possible though not necessarily exclusive. To illustrate this, consider the hashtag #Science: yes, one might classify "genetics" or "psychology" as kinds of science, but it's more useful to keep them in categories of their own. The hashtag #Science is reserved for the kind of content one is more likely to run across in the Interesting Engineering blog or on Destin Sandlin's Smarter Every Day's channel. One might describe this as something like "insights into how the world works."

Or consider the hashtags #AustrianEconomics, #Libertarian and #Economics. Some might see the first as carrying essentially the same meaning as #Libertarian, but obviously they don't mean the same thing. For example, popular US podcasters like Dave Smith and Andrew Napolitano identify as libertarians, but they do not typically focus on economic topics. Similarly, while there is substantial overlap with the hashtag #Economics, the #Economics category naturally includes many content creators which don't employ the Austrian framework. For content creators who do both write and/or talk about economic issues using an Austrian framework, applying both #AustrianEconomics and #Economics makes sense.

While an infinite variety of hashtags is of course possible, remember that the most useful hashtags are those applicable to a substantial group of content creators but not to everyone. In this light, readers and editors considering adding new tags may want to give preference to more frequently used tags over those less commonly used. So for example to designate a left wing political perspective, in English a number of tags might be understandable. One could use #Liberal, #Left, #Leftist, #Progressive or any number of terms. At the moment Quantum Intel uses the term #Left for this, not because the others are wrong, but because we need to pick one of them. The goal is to pick something as neutral as possible, but of course there is no one "right" decision.

Critical discussion of "woke" culture, non-traditional sexual norms and "multiculturalism" is another example. #DEI, #AntiWoke, #Multiculturalism and #LGBTQ are all hashtags which might well be applicable from case to case, but for the moment, our editors have arbitrarily decided on the hashtag #CultureWar to cover all of these. Again, this is not a question of right or wrong. It's just a way to make content creators covering these topics easier to find.

Another good example of making hashtags useful is the differentiation between feeds about health and feeds about political issues related to health. Substack labels the latter category "#HealthPolitics" and that seems to be a useful category. And while many blogs and podcasts do occasionally cover health-related topics, it's best to limit the hashtag #Health to those which either focus primarily on health, or where a very substantial percentage of their content is health-related.

Editors are encouraged to come up with their own "hashtag strategies" and submit these ideas to the platform. Since to a certain extent this decision is arbitrary, it's probably best to agree on this in advance.

Also keep in mind that while Quantum Intel is currently primarily in English, we do support multilingual hashtags, so for frequently used hashtags this also may need to be considered. The most common hashtags are usually at least supported in English, German and French.

Just keep in mind that nothing here is written in stone, and that this is work in progress.

When new feeds are created, these fields are not always complete. Most platforms now all use usernames, which are strings without spaces following the @ symbol, so this is usually not a problem. The others, by contrast, may be either not provided or in need of editing. For example, Youtube currently does not provide a separate "author" field, though most other platforms do. So this missing information needs to be added or obtained from the original Youtube channel name, which often is or includes the author's name.

The author could be one person, several people, or an organization. If it's multiple people, that's fine. They can all be listed with their names separated by commas. If it's an organization, like for example "Zerohedge," that's also fine.

The Alt Name is optional, but can come into play in three situations:

1. If the author is an organization, it can be used to list the names of the founder(s) or chief editor.
2. If the author's common use name is a pseudonym, alias, abbreviation or pen name, the Alt Name field can be used to include the author's actual full name.
3. If the feed belongs to company such as for example the Daily Wire, the Alt Name field can be used to name that organization. This helps with both searchability and transparency.