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Google Reader is down with the whole social scene, just like Twitter, Facebook, and Friendfeed with 4 new ways to share content.  Google Reader is adding “fun” social elements like following, liking, and searching.  But is it too little too late?

Google Reader used to be the place where I got all the breaking news.  The problem?  RSS isn’t real-time.  Twitter has taken over that job for me and for folks like the mighty Robert Scoble and Friendfeed fills the niche.  Google Reader, presumably feeling the Twitter effect, is fighting back.  At least a little bit.

Today, the Google Reader Blog pitches us 4 new ways users can get social, but not too social if that is your bag.  Here they are:

• People.  Now you can search for the folks who share stuff publicly and follow them.  You’ll get all their shared data.  Kinda like following someone on Twitter.
• Selective sharing.  Now, based on your contacts and groups you set up, you can share items.  Don’t want Gramps to see your bathroom humor stuff you share?  Cool, don’t show him.  This keys off your contacts in GMail.
• Link to your shared.  Folks who somehow manage to find your Google Profile can see a link you enable there to follow you on Google Reader.
• Like it.  Really.  An outright copy of other places likes (Friendfeed, now Facebook), you can show the world what you “like.”

Maybe because my usage of Google Reader is way off, I get the “dead fish handshake” on this.  It seems to be going through the motions while devoted to the RSS.  Is Google Reader part of your diet?  Do you need more social action?  Let us know.

Read [Google Reader Blog]