You open X (Twitter) and scroll for ten minutes. You see a hot take from a brand account, a meme you saw yesterday, and a thread about something you don’t care about. Sound familiar? The problem isn’t the platform. It’s who you’re following.
Beginners on Reddit ask this question every week: “What are the best accounts on X for [topic]?” But the answers are usually vague (“follow @example”) or outdated. You end up following random suggestions and your feed still sucks.
This checklist fixes that. It’s the exact method Reddit power users, journalists, and niche enthusiasts use to curate a feed that’s actually useful. No fluff, no guesswork.
Step 1: Start with a subreddit, not a search bar
Don’t type “best accounts on X crypto” into Google. Go to Reddit first.
Find the subreddit for your topic. For example, r/CryptoCurrency, r/fantasyfootball, or r/photography. Sort by “Top of All Time” and look for threads titled “Who are the best follows on Twitter for X?” or “Hidden gem accounts on X.”
What you’re looking for: Accounts that appear in multiple threads. If three people mention @CryptoCred in a crypto thread, that’s a signal.
Step 2: Vet the account before you follow
Don’t hit follow immediately. Open the profile and check three things:
- Post frequency: Do they post daily or once a month? Dead accounts aren’t helpful.
- Engagement: Are they replying to comments or just broadcasting? Good accounts have conversations.
- Vibe check: Is it mostly retweets or original content? You want original, not a repost bot.
Red flag: An account with 50k followers but 5 likes per post. That usually means bought followers or a dead audience.
Step 3: Look for lists (the real hack)
On X, users can create public lists. Reddit rarely mentions this, but it’s the fastest way to find curated accounts.
Search for “[topic] list” on X. For example, search “crypto list” and filter by “People.” You’ll find users who have already organized the best accounts into a list. Follow the list, not just one account.
Why this works: One list can give you 20-50 relevant accounts in one click. No manual hunting.
Step 4: Check the “Who to follow” algorithm (but be skeptical)
X’s built-in recommendation engine is decent, but it shows you popular accounts, not necessarily good ones. Use it as a secondary source.
- Go to a profile you already trust.
- Scroll down to “Who to follow” on the sidebar.
- Only follow if the account passes the Step 2 vetting.
Beginner mistake: Following the first 5 accounts the algorithm shows you. That’s how you end up with Elon Musk and a brand account you don’t care about.
Step 5: Use the “mute” feature liberally
You followed 10 accounts. One of them tweets 30 times a day about stuff you don’t care about. Mute them.
Reddit users often say “just unfollow.” But muting is better. You keep the account on your list for occasional deep dives without polluting your daily feed.
Action step: After one week, review your feed. Mute any account that caused you to scroll past 3+ tweets in a row.
Step 6: Repeat the process quarterly
Best accounts change. People stop tweeting, switch niches, or go inactive. Reddit threads from 2022 are useless for 2025 topics.
Set a reminder every 3 months to run this checklist again. It takes 20 minutes and keeps your feed fresh.
Common mistakes that keep your feed mediocre
- Following too many too fast: Your algorithm gets confused and shows you mixed content. Stick to 20-30 quality accounts.
- Ignoring “small” accounts: Accounts with 1k-5k followers often have higher signal-to-noise ratio than big influencers.
- Not checking the date: A Reddit thread from 2023 might recommend accounts that have gone inactive. Always check the last post date.
A realistic example: finding a crypto news account from scratch
Let’s say you want to follow smart crypto accounts on X. You go to r/CryptoCurrency, search the subreddit for “best Twitter accounts,” and find a thread from 6 months ago. Three users mention @cryptocred. You check their profile: they post daily, have real replies, and only retweet occasionally. You follow them.
Then you search for “crypto list” on X and find a list called “Crypto News Curated” with 40 accounts. You follow the list. In 10 minutes, you have a quality feed without following random accounts.
