The Top Social News Sites to Check Out

Find and share news from around the web

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
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Updated on September 11, 2020

The popular social news sites are mobile-friendly (many have apps) and are designed to cater to those who want a personalized news experience. These news sites have a strong community and a different look and feel. Reddit probably leads the way as the most popular social news site, but that doesn't mean it's the best social news site for you.

The best way to choose a social news site is to find one that matches your interests and has a look and feel that you are comfortable using. Each site mentioned in this article is a general social news site, which means it covers a variety of topics. If you dig around enough, some social news sites may specialize in certain categories while being light in others.

01
of 08

Reddit

Reddit home page
What We Like

  • Massive community.

  • There's a subreddit for everything.

What We Don't Like

  • The Reddit community is a mixed bag.

Reddit is a social news site with a smart and helpful community of users. It borders on downright ugly. However, it's easy to use and is a source for some of the best information you'll find.

02
of 08

Digg

Digg homepage
What We Like

  • More curated news feel.

  • Continually updating.

What We Don't Like

  • Less social than others.

Digg is a popular social news site that covers a variety of topics and acts as an RSS reader. It has an easy-to-use interface, and new users can be up and running in no time.

03
of 08

Quora

A screenshot of the Quora.com login page.
What We Like

  • Get direct answers.

  • Speak directly with experts.

What We Don't Like

  • Not news in the traditional sense.

Quora is a question and answer site rather than a news site, but that doesn't mean you can't find newsworthy questions and answers there. The Quora community is smart and more than happy to answer some of the most pressing questions.

04
of 08

Hacker News

Hacker News homepage
What We Like

  • Plug in to the tech world.

  • Loads of news and discussions from within the industry.

What We Don't Like

  • Super focused on tech alone.

Hacker News is for those who work and play in technology. The best stories that have been voted up to acquire the most points appear at the top, and users can leave comments to discuss those stories.

05
of 08

Product Hunt

Product Hunt homepage
What We Like

  • Learn about new products.

  • Explore the latest releases in multiple worlds.

What We Don't Like

  • More product-driven than news.

Product Hunt is a social news site for the newest cool products and services in technology, gaming, books, and podcasts. Creators use the site to get the word out about their new thing, and frequent visitors get first dibs in discovering it.

06
of 08

Mix

Mix homepage
What We Like

  • Curated news direct to you.

  • Find new and interesting info.

What We Don't Like

  • Requires an account.

  • Light on the social component.

Mix has been around for a long time as StumbleUpon, and it's still a great way to discover news stories. Like flipping channels on a TV, you stumble through web pages submitted by the community in various categories.

07
of 08

Flipboard

Flipboard homepage
What We Like

  • Curated news from social sources.

  • Direct connection to social media.

What We Don't Like

  • That direct connection to social media cuts both ways.

Flipboard is a social news magazine. Designed to look like a magazine, you'll see popular new stories from the Flipboard community and from your social networks like Facebook and Twitter if you choose to integrate those networks.

08
of 08

Voat

Voat is only listed here in the interest of completeness. The Voat community has tendencies toward the controversial and downright offensive. While you may happen across Voat in your travels, it's best to avoid the site.

Voat is like a Reddit clone, right down to the design of it. Browse categories using the menu, submit links, and participate in the voting to contribute to the community.

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