In recent years the internet has seen usage like never before, with more and more people getting online each year. In fact, a recent UN survey suggested more than three billion people across the world now have internet access.
It stands to reason if you’re reading this then the internet is probably a big part of your everyday life, whether you use it for work or leisure, or even just for staying in touch with family and friends.
But are you making the most of your time online? Many people do not take advantage of the full array of sites on offer, sticking to comfort zones such as Twitter or Facebook.
So, with this in mind, we have put together a list of ways you can maximise your time online. Some are interesting, some are just silly, but they’re all worth a look.
#1 Egosurf
More commonly known as ‘Googling yourself’. Type your name into Google and everybody’s favourite search engine will instantly bring up a list of everything related to your name. Sure, it might not be all about you, but it’s always fun to see what the other John Smith of Sydney, Australia is doing lately.
Source: “google” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by FindYourSearch
#2 Learn how to cook/bake
Cooking and baking has always had a home online but recently it has seen a surge in popularity thanks to social media apps like Snapchat, and YouTube, with channels like Sorted Food and Tastemade gathering a huge following. So, instead of just talking about that moussaka you want to make, go ahead and do it!
Source: “Mmm… baked penne” (CC BY 2.0) by jeffreyw
#3 Research your genealogy
You’ve always talked about finding out if you’re related to royalty, and now the internet has made it easier than ever, with sites like Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast just a click away.
#4 Place a bet
Thanks to the internet and smartphone apps, online betting is easier than it has ever been. Whatever your game is, whether it be football, tennis or horse racing, you can try your luck at any number of online bookmakers, with many even offering an introductory free bet.
Source: “…almost there…” (CC BY 2.0) by sashafatcat
#5 Test your emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is your capacity to be aware of, control, and express your emotions, as well as how empathetic you are in friendships and relationships. It may not be something you have thought about before, but it’s certainly an interesting thing to discover, and it’s easy to do with this free quiz.
#6 Find out the Bacon number of your favourite celebrity
This one may fall into the ‘silly’ category, but it’s still a novel little hidden feature of Google. A play on the idea of six degrees of separation, or the idea everyone in the world is connected by no more than six acquaintances or links, a celebrity’s Bacon number indicates how many degrees they are from actor Kevin Bacon.
For example, Brad Pitt and Kevin Bacon appeared in the movie Sleepers, which makes Brad’s number 1. To find out, simply google the celebrity’s name followed by ‘Bacon number’. Pointless, but fun!
Source: “Kevin Bacon” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore
