Google Reader's share feature is socially addictive
I finally made a big switch (for me) last week, choosing Google Reader as my primary RSS reader.
I’ve used Bloglines for several years now and have always liked it. It’s a pretty straightforward service for plugging in RSS feeds and letting the stories come to you. However, I’ve been increasingly tempted to switch over to Google Reader but it took some time as I was simply comfortable with what I was doing.
Now that I have, I’m starting to see what the buzz and hubbub has been about. While getting used to the simple RSS reading part has taken a little getting used to (and the more I do it, the more I prefer it to the slightly clunkier Bloglines UI), the social part – the ability to share stories via a simple click – is surprisingly powerful and even addictive.
For one, I can now easily share stories with and receive stories from all of my Gmail contacts. A Friends’ shared items area on the Google Reader side nav is a pretty ingenious way for me to browse stories from my friends and fellow bloggers that I’m in contact with.
Now, bring in the Friendfeed factor and things get really interesting. When I share a story, it will show up on my Gmail contacts’ shared item area, but also as part of my Friendfeed “life stream” as well as the new Friendfeed “rooms” that I’ve been kindly invited to be a part of.
As a blogger, online media cultist, and semi-voracious consumer of information, it’s pretty wonderful that a combination of my blog feed, Twitter, Friendfeed, and Google Reader shared items can be used as a powerful way to share ideas and stories while partaking in a dynamic and vibrant community.
This is social networking of a different and new sort, I believe. We’re onto something big here. I’m always happy when following a story and I can’t wait to see what happens next. This is a perfect example.
