Using the internet is very important in this century. However, some people do not know how to use the internet. To learn about the different ways you can use the internet, start with Step 1 below.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Keeping in touch with Friends and Family
Step 1. Use email (email)
Email is very similar to regular mail and you can use it in the same way. But you have to register with an e-mail service to get an address. There are many free email services and good ones include GMail and Outlook.com. If you want to check your email, you'll need to visit the website of the service you used to register your email and service with, so you can read your email.
The email address is not the same as the street address. This address has a format like [email protected]. For example, the email to contact us here on wikiHow is [email protected]. If your name is John Doe and you signed up with Gmail, your address could look like [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or even something completely different like [email protected]
Step 2. Use Social Media
Social media is a term that encompasses a wide variety of websites, all of which are used to connect and communicate with other people. Commonly used forms of social media include:
- Facebook, which is used for a variety of purposes, from messaging to sharing pictures and videos.
- Twitter, which is used to post very brief updates and thoughts about your life.
- Instagram, which is used to share images.
- Pinterest, which is used to share what you find on the internet.
Step 3. Read or write a blog
A blog, which is derived from the term web log, is an online journal. You can place text, images, and even videos inside a blog. You can write on your own blog or read someone else's. Blogs cover all kinds of different subjects, and begin to replace certain sections in newspapers in their function.
Step 4. Have a chat
You can use the internet to talk face-to-face with people you know (or even people you don't know). If you want to talk face to face or by voice like a telephone, you can use a service like Skype, which can often be used for free or for a low price. You can also chat via text, which is the same as chatting but with text only, using a number of different services (such as AOL's Instant Messenger or AIM services).
Step 5. Start dating
You can also date online! There are some sites that are free, and some that are paid, all aimed at helping you meet someone who is right for you. There are even some dedicated dating sites, for people with certain professions or with special interests. The most commonly used sites are Match and eHarmony. MeetMe is a popular free dating site and app for smartphones, tablets and computers.
Part 2 of 5: Keeping in Touch with Events
Step 1. Read the news
You can read newspapers online, often for free or for less than the price of a printed version. Most major newspapers have online editions. Often these are complemented by videos to provide a multimedia experience. Try to find your favorite newspaper! The New York Times and CNN are general news sites.
Step 2. Watch the news
You can also watch the news online. Visit local TV stations' websites to view their offerings, or watch clips from major news networks, such as the BBC.
Step 3. Get opinions and analysis
You can easily find op-ed style articles (opinion pages) and financial, sports, and political analysis online, from blogs, news sites, and other sites. One popular online analytics resource is Nate Silver, via the FiveThirtyEight blog.
Step 4. Twitter
While social media is generally used to tell all your friends about the weird food you've just eaten, Twitter can also be used to keep you up to date on important events. Follow the Twitter feeds for official offices, such as the State Palace or major news networks, to get the latest events happening.
Part 3 of 5: Managing Your Life
Step 1. Perform online banking transactions
Many major banks allow online banking transactions, which you can use to get reports, make deposits and withdrawals, order checks, and perform other general banking activities. Check your bank's official website or contact them for more information.
Step 2. Pay your bill
Often you can also pay bills online or even set up payments automatically, so you don't have to worry about paying certain bills each month. You can set this up via your bank's website (sometimes, depending on the bank) or you can visit the website of the company you're billed for (if they have online billing arrangements). Contact them for more information.
Step 3. Balance your checkbook
You can use a free service like Google Sheets to set up a tracker for your monthly expenses. This will be easier if you have experience with programs like Microsoft Excel, but you can also get templates that are easy to fill out. This service is free, provided you have a Google Account
Step 4. Invest your money
If you like playing stocks, you can even invest your money online, using sites like ETrade to buy, sell and track your stocks. This is easy to do and gives you more control over your trades.
Step 5. Save the calendar
You can keep a calendar containing all your appointments, birthdays, and anniversaries using a tool like Google Calendar. You can even share your calendar with friends and family, so they know where to look for you and what's going on in your life.
Step 6. Find a new job
If you want to get paid work or even volunteer, you can find many opportunities online, using sites like Monster.com. You can search by the type of job you want, where you live, the length of time you have, etc. You can even do things like create a resume.
Part 4 of 5: Researching Information
Step 1. Find a professional service
The internet has quickly become like a giant directory. Most professional services today have a website or at least a Google listing, so you can easily get addresses and contact information, as well as hours and prices. You can even use some sites to get recommendations, such as AngiesList.com.
Step 2. Take a course class
You can take full university courses or even free courses online, if you want to learn a new skill or keep your brain active. You can find some free courses from major universities on sites like Coursera, but actual online degree programs are usually paid for.
Step 3. Learn new things
If you're excited to learn something more than a full class, you can also find this type of information on the internet. Visit sites like TED to see engaging lectures from some of the world's best minds, for free. You can learn a lot of basic skills (and not the least basic!) on a site like this one, wikiHow. You can also find sites like Wikipedia, which is a free online encyclopedia and contains an enormous wealth of information. YouTube has a lot of information and entertainment in video format.
Step 4. Learn about your family history
If you are interested in your family history, you can do some research on where you and your family come from. There are many genealogy sites that can not only provide information but also occasionally provide things like drawings or draft cards. Try Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and EllisIsland.org. Many publicly available census records can also be read online.
Part 5 of 5: Finding Entertainment
Step 1. Watch television and movies
You don't need to have cable TV anymore if you don't want it. Many popular TV shows and movies can be watched through services like Netflix or Hulu, which can even stream directly to your TV. Usually you have to pay, but it's not expensive, much cheaper than paying for a cable TV subscription.
Step 2. Watch YouTube
Youtube carries all kinds of different video content. You can watch funny clips, family movies, full TV shows, full movies, clips of any of those things, or even just do things like listen to songs.
Step 3. Play the game
You can play games online (or even gamble!). Sites like Games.com offer lots of classic games for free that you can play. Another option is a game like fantasy football: you can enjoy a number of leagues available online for free.
Step 4. Read comics
If you enjoy reading comics when they are in the newspaper, you can read many of the same comics online. Try doing a search for your favorite comic…You might be surprised!
- Read Garfield here.
- Read Family Circus here.
- Find new comics. There are many new comics that have never been published in the newspaper but can be read for free online. It's called a webcomic, and it covers a lot of topics.
Step 5. Listen to music
You can also listen to music online. There are many free sites that allow you to listen to the music you love. Pandora is a free internet radio that allows you to choose the type of music you want to listen to. Slacker.com is similar to a satellite radio service with a wide variety of music from all genres. You can also try to feature specific songs or artists using sites like YouTube.
