Have Fun on the Internet

The internet has endless activities you can engage in for fun. However, there are so many things to do on the internet that it may seem overwhelming to find something that suits your mood or taste. Fortunately, by thinking about different categories of things you can do and narrowing them down, you’ll be better able to get a grip on what the internet can offer you. In the end, by playing games, enjoying multimedia, interacting with others, and exploring the internet in general, you’ll have a lot of fun.

Steps

Playing Different Types of Games

1. Play video games. Video games are one of the easiest and most popular ways to have fun on the internet. You can choose from hundreds of different games to play with others or by yourself. While this might seem overwhelming, you can start by:
   • Consulting websites like jayisgames.com for reviews about games you can play on the internet.
   • Purchasing popular first-person games like Halo and Call of Duty and playing with other people.
   • Playing real-time strategy games like StarCraft II on Blizzard’s Battle.net.
2. Find browser-based games. Browser games usually don’t require you to download any software to play. To play, you simply visit a website with your browser and play the game. Browser-based games, then, are a great way to have fun on the internet with minimum commitment. Try:
   • Ikariam. In Ikariam, you explore the ancient Mediterranean world.
   • Risk. Risk is classic game of world domination.
   • Travian. This is a strategy game set in the ancient Roman world.
   • Visiting www.addictinggames.com for more browser-based games.
3. Take quizzes. Quizzes are a great way to entertain yourself, test your knowledge, and interact with others. Ultimately, quizzes are low-commitment alternatives to regular games.
   • Visit funtrivia.com, triviaplaza.com, or queendom.com for free trivia.
   • For quizzes check Buzzfeed or Quibblo for fun quizzes.

Watching Videos and Listening to Music

1. Listen to music. One of the most enjoyable things to do on the internet is to listen to different types of music. Because of the nature of the internet, you have access to a wide variety of music that you may not already be familiar with. At the same time, there are several both pay and free ways to listen to music. Visit:
   • Pandora.com
   • Rhapsody.com
   • Youtube.com
   • aolradio.com
   • Spotify.com
   • Grooveshark.com
2. Watch TV shows, movies, and other videos online. The internet is quickly displacing cable TV as the best and most convenient way to watch TV shows, movies, and more. Ultimately, the internet is one of the best ways to watch your favorite programs. Not only will you be able to catch up on the newest shows and movies, but you can watch old ones, too. Some popular websites include:
   • Hulu
   • Veoh
   • YouTube
   • Netflix.
3. Look at pictures. The internet is also a source of almost countless pictures you can scroll through for entertainment. These pictures vary from historical photos, to modern landscapes and cityscapes, to photos of celebrities. To view pictures:
   • Run an image search on major search engines. For example, Yahoo and Google images have thousands of pictures on just about any topic.
   • Visit Flickr.
   • Explore Photobucket.
   • Look at Pixels.

Interacting with Others

1. Chat with people. Chatting with people is one of the most established ways of having fun on the internet. Since the earliest days of the web, people have used virtual chatrooms to entertain themselves..
   • Join chat rooms on places like Omegle.com or through the AOL service.
   • Use social media websites like Facebook to meet people and chat with them.
   • Use caution when chatting with strangers. Don’t volunteer personal information or meet with people you don’t know.
2. Use social media. Social media is one of the most popular ways for people to entertain themselves online today. Through social media, you can exchange messages, pictures, videos, and news stories with friends. In the end, you’ll spend countless hours on social media websites. Sign up with popular social media sites like:
   • Facebook
   • Twitter
   • Instagram
   • Snapchat
   • Myspace
3. Blog or read blogs. Blogs are one of the best and easiest ways for you to interact with others on the internet. Not only can you write your own blog, but you can read others and comment on blog postings. If you find blogs you’re interested in, you’ll be set up for many enjoyable and entertaining hours on the internet.
   • Run an internet search for blogs you may be interested in. For example, if you like gardening, search for “gardening blogs.” Take some time to explore the blogs and see if you find one that interests you.
   • Create your own blog. Sign up with a website like Tumblr, WordPress or blogger. Here you’ll be able to create your own blog.
   • Find several blogs you’re interested in. Keep up with them and feel free to comment on them and contact the writers. You may wind up making friends while you have fun.

Exploring the Internet

1. Keep up with the news. Depending on your interests, you may be able to have a lot of fun keeping up with the news on the internet. Ultimately, thanks to the variety of websites and perspectives on the internet, you’ll certainly be able to find a news outlet that peak your interest and fit your worldview.
   • Keep up with politics. Visit websites like the Hill, Politico, Mother Jones, the Daily Caller, the National Review, and more.
   • Read about sports. You might find that you become addicted to espn.com or other sports websites.
   • Keep up to date with science and environmental news at websites like National Geographic, Space.com, and more.
2. Use the Stumbleupon service. Stumbleupon is a website that allows you to choose topics that interest you. The website then “randomly” directs you to other websites that fit the criteria you’ve selected.
   • Sign up with your Facebook or Google account.
   • Select at least 10 categories that interest you. For example, categories include: science, movies, celebrities, technology, and more.
   • Hit “Stumble.”
   • Read the result. If you don’t like it, continue to click “stumble” until you find something that does interest you.
3. Explore wiki websites. Wiki sites are websites that rely on collaboration among users to generate content. There are many wiki websites on the internet today. While many of these focus on providing broad-range information, some of them are very specific. Visit:
   • Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia with millions of articles. Feel free to explore the “featured article” section or the “on this day” section of the website. You’ll likely find interesting things and may spend countless hours reading about new things.
   • wikiHow, which focuses on providing step-by-step information about how to teach people to do just about anything. wikiHow also has a featured article section in which you’ll be able to view articles that might interest you.
   • Various wikis on specific subjects such as movies, video games, and more. For instance, if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, visit the Game of Thrones wiki at: http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Game_of_Thrones_Wiki

Being Safe and Smart While Having Fun

1. Be careful when sharing your personal information. Perhaps the biggest danger the internet poses is the loss of your personal information. As a result, you need to be very careful about who you supply that information to.
   • Look for the padlock symbol at the bottom of your browser when you enter personal information.
   • Do not provide your address, credit card information, or similar info to a website or payment service unless you can verify that they are legitimate. To make sure, first verify that the website has a current SSL certificate and then run a web search to investigate the website's reputation.
2. Keep your computer safe. Whether you're playing a browser game or streaming music, your computer may be at risk of picking up a virus that could compromise your security. As a result, you should make sure your computer has virus protection.
   • Make sure your virus protection software is up to date. For example, subscribe to a service like Norton or McAfee.
   • Turn on a firewall. Your antivirus protection or operating system may come with firewall protection.
   • Don't install or download programs unless you can verify they are safe.
3. Moderate time spent online. An important part of having fun on the internet is to make sure you don't spend too much time online. If you do, healthy fun could turn to an addiction and you ignoring important responsibilities.
   • Don't waste time on the internet when you're supposed to work.
   • Avoid playing games when you're supposed to spend time with your family.
   • Consider setting aside a certain amount of time per day to have fun on the internet. For example, limit yourself to 1 hour a day.
   • Studies have shown that spending a lot of time online will make you moodier and possibly depressed.
4. Be cautious with strangers. While you may be very comfortable communicating with strangers online, the internet is full of potentially dangerous individuals looking to take advantage of people.
   • If you have to meet someone you met over the internet, make sure to do it in a safe public place, like at a busy mall near a security guard or police officer.
   • Children should tell their parents or the authorities if someone on the internet asks them for pictures of themselves.
   • If you're using a dating or social media website to meet a romantic partner, make sure the person has been verified by the dating website or by someone you know.
   • Never invite anyone you met on the internet to your home.
   • Children should not provide any personal information, such as address, phone number, or full name to anyone on the internet.

Related Articles

• Have Fun when You're Bored

Sources and Citations

See also

• Get Involved in the Internet
• Send a Google Hangouts Invite
• Not Get Caught Looking at Porn
• Get a Free Internet Connection
• Create an Online Portfolio
• Get On the First Page of Google
• Be a Troll
• Stop Internet Addiction
• Capture FLV Streaming Internet Video from Websites Protected by the HTTP Protocol
• Combine Two Internet Connections

Read more ...