Turn Your Social Media into a Reading List: How to Leverage Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for Book Recommendations

Social media is a great way to stay informed and connected, but it can also be overwhelming. With a constant barrage of information, it’s easy to miss interesting articles or get sidetracked by irrelevant posts. Fortunately, there are many tools and strategies that can help you turn your social media profiles into a valuable reading list, allowing you to curate and enjoy the content you find most engaging. In this article, we’ll explore various techniques for managing your news feed and building a personalized reading list across different platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. We’ll also delve into the capabilities of popular read-it-later apps like Pocket and Instapaper, empowering you to create a seamless reading experience.

Facebook: Taming the News Feed

Navigating the vast expanse of your Facebook news feed can be a daunting task, especially with a growing list of friends and pages you follow. Fortunately, Facebook offers several features to help you manage the information overload and prioritize articles you want to read later.

Facebook’s Save Feature

Facebook’s Save feature is a simple yet effective way to bookmark content for future reading. Here’s how to use it:

1. Locate the Save Button: On any post in your News Feed, you’ll find the Save button at the bottom right. Simply click this button to add the post to your saved items.
2. Alternatively, you can click the tiny down-arrow button at the top-right corner of the post and choose Save from the menu.
3. Save Facebook Pages: You can also save entire Facebook pages for easy access. Visit the page, click the three dots next to the Share button on the cover photo, and select Save.
4. Accessing Your Saved Content: To view all your saved posts, click the Saved link on the left side of your News Feed, under Events.
5. Categorization and Management: Facebook organizes your saved items into tabs, such as Movies, Links, and more. To delete saved content, click the tiny "x" next to each item. This will move it to the Archive tab. From there, you can click the three dots and select Delete to permanently remove it or Unarchive to return it to the Saved tab.

LikeManager: A Comprehensive Approach

While the Save feature helps you organize content you want to read later, it doesn’t necessarily solve the problem of finding articles you’ve previously liked but forgotten about. For this purpose, LikeManager is an excellent third-party app that allows you to access and manage all your past Facebook likes. Here’s how to use it:

1. Sign Up with Facebook: Visit the LikeManager website and click Signup for free with Facebook. Grant LikeManager access to your Facebook profile.
2. Browse Your Likes: After signing up, you’ll see a neatly organized list of your previous likes, allowing you to scroll through and discover forgotten articles and posts.
3. Search and Filter: Utilize the search bar at the top to find specific likes. LikeManager also categorizes your likes into various categories such as videos, movies, shopping, and more. Clicking on a category displays relevant likes, making it easier to find something you’re looking for.
4. Categorical Organization: Below these categories, you’ll see tabs for All likes, Likes on Friend’s Posts, Links I’ve Shared, and Likes Outside of Facebook. These tabs allow you to filter your likes according to specific criteria, providing a more refined browsing experience.

Twitter: Clear the Clutter, Focus on Articles

Twitter is a great place to discover new articles and stay abreast of current events. However, the sheer volume of tweets can make finding articles you want to read a challenge.

Vellum: A Twitter-Specific Solution

Vellum is a smart tool created by the New York Times that effectively transforms your Twitter timeline into a reading list. Here’s how it works:

1. Sign Up with Twitter: Visit the Vellum website and click Sign up with Twitter to authorize Vellum to access your timeline.
2. Read-Only Format: Vellum presents articles from your Twitter feed in a clean, distraction-free format. You’ll see headlines and sometimes brief summaries, allowing you to quickly scan and select articles you want to read.
3. Original Tweet Access: To see the original tweet context, click the profile picture to the right of each headline.
4. Article Grouping: Vellum intelligently groups multiple tweets about the same article, streamlining your browsing experience.
5. Timeline and List Flexibility: The drop-down menu at the top lets you view articles from your main timeline or any lists you’ve created.

Safari’s Shared Links Feature (iOS and Mac)

If you are using iOS or Mac devices, Safari’s built-in Shared Links feature provides a similar functionality to Vellum, eliminating the need for a separate app. Here’s how to access it:

1. iOS Setup: Open Settings, navigate to Twitter, and add your account by entering your username and password.
2. Access Shared Links: Open Safari, tap the book icon, and tap the @ tab at the top. You’ll see a list of tweets with links shared on your Twitter feed.
3. Mac OS X Mavericks Setup: Open System Preferences, navigate to Internet Accounts, and log in to Twitter and LinkedIn.
4. Access Shared Links: Open Safari, click the book icon, and select Shared Links.

Google+: A Simple Trick for Reading List Creation

If you primarily rely on Google+ for news and articles, there’s a quick and easy way to create a reading list within the platform.

Creating a Google+ Circle for Reading List:

1. Navigate to Google+ Circles: Open Google+ Circles, sign in, and click the + icon to create a new circle.
2. Empty Circle: Leave this circle empty without adding any people. Give it a descriptive name like "Reading List."
3. Exclusive Sharing: Whenever you encounter an article you want to read later, share it with the Reading List circle. This keeps these articles private, only visible to you, effectively forming your personal reading list.

Using Google+’s +1 Feature:

Another option is to simply +1 articles that interest you. All your +1’d content will be accessible under the +1’s section on your profile page.

1. Privacy Settings: To maintain privacy, go to Google+ settings, scroll down to Profile, and uncheck the box next to +1. This ensures that the +1’s section remains private, visible only to you.

Read-It-Later Apps: The Ultimate Reading List Solution

For a truly seamless and versatile solution for saving and managing articles, read-it-later apps like Pocket and Instapaper are invaluable.

Pocket: A Multi-Platform Favorite

Pocket stands out due to its availability across multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Web, browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari), its ease of use, its integration with various apps like Tweetbot, Flipboard, and Feedly, its ad-free experience, and its pleasant design. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Create an Account: Visit the Pocket website and click Sign Up Now to create an account.
2. Install the App or Extension: Download the Pocket app for your preferred platform or install the browser extension.
3. Save Articles: Pocket adds a button to your browser, enabling you to save webpages with a single click. The service saves the content for offline reading.
4. Access Your Reading List: To view your saved articles, visit the Pocket website and log in.
5. Offline Access with Apps: The Pocket apps for Android and iOS download articles you’ve saved, allowing you to read them without internet access. Simply download the apps, log in, and enjoy your curated library.

Instapaper: Alternative Read-It-Later Option

Instapaper is another popular read-it-later app offering similar functionality to Pocket. It’s known for its clean interface and article formatting, making it a compelling alternative.

Conclusion: Turn Social Media into Your Reading Oasis

By implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this article, you can transform your social networking experience, turning scattered articles and posts into a well-organized and easily accessible reading list. Whether you prefer Facebook’s Save feature, LikeManager’s comprehensive view, Vellum’s Twitter-focused approach, Google+ circles, or the power of read-it-later apps like Pocket and Instapaper, there’s a way to create a personalized reading experience that caters to your specific needs. Embrace these tools, embrace your reading journey, and discover the joy of a well-curated and enjoyable reading experience within the bustling world of social media.

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