An application executes on a client device to automatically subscribe a user to a particular syndication feed. In at least some instances, the user can be preliminarily unaware that they have been subscribed to the feed. In at least some embodiments, the application automatically subscribes to feeds using one or more contact lists that contain contacts that are relevant to the particular user. Specifically, the application is able to access the contact list(s) and ascertain from the individual contacts who, among the user's contacts, constitutes a source of a syndication feed. Once one or more contacts have been identified, the application can automatically subscribe to the feed so that the user can now receive and consume feed data.