People who followed many Twitter accounts could easily miss interesting links in the constant stream. Paper.li turned them into a kind of newspaper, dividing articles, photos and videos into sections. The idea was attractive: rather than reading every post, review a selection at a quieter moment.
A newspaper needs an editor
Even an automatically assembled page reflects choices. Which accounts do you follow? Which subjects matter? Which posts get shared widely but add little? If you choose sources without thought, a well-designed newspaper does not remove the noise. The format works best when you know which questions you want answered.
For a professional subject, you might follow a small group of reliable people and publications. Save useful links, organize them by subject and make time to read the original source. A popular post is not a fact check. Friends or hobbies may call for a different selection.
A snapshot in time
My original article described Paper.li as a simple free Twitter service. That product description and Twitter's popularity at the time are historical. I use it here as a case study of a lasting problem: a large feed demands selection. Whether you use a reading list, newsletter or personal digest, the value comes from the sources and the attention you give them.