what to do if it is your first day on the internet


As a kid I made a promise to my guardian - once we get a computer, I will teach him everything there is to learn. He passed away in 2003 and never got to experience the internet.

Fast forward to 2024 I wondered how I would teach him to use the internet and all of its possibilities. Then I pivoted to ask myself, "How do I teach someone to use the internet when they are new to computers, phones and WiFi?"

What to do if it's your first day on the internet?

If you are new to the internet and using it for the first time, it might be some months before you even get to this post. 

Most likely, you will be guided by a family member or friend who will show you how we can leverage the internet, social media and the apps based around exchanging data worldwide.

But let's say you have no one to teach you how it all works; then how do you get started?

Understanding how the internet works, super simplified

To access the internet, you will first need a device:

  1. A mobile phone or tablet
  2. A desktop or laptop
  3. Internet enabled devices like a gaming console or Smart TV.

Once you have a device with you, you will notice that you cannot access the internet. 

Why is that so? 

It's because you need a data connection:

  1. Mobile data on your phone.
  2. A WiFi connection.

Once you have both, you are well equipped to go ahead and use the internet on your device with a data connection plan.

To simplify, here's how the internet works:

  1. Say you want to find information on Nigeria.
  2. You go to your browser in the phone or computer.
  3. You will find a rectangle to type your search query.
  4. Here you can type 'Nigeria' and click on the search button.
  5. This will give you 'links' to multiple sources of articles and content about Nigeria.
  6. Each link is a specific address to information on a page about the topic you are searching for.
  7. To fulfil this specific request, your device and connection will use up some data.
  8. Depending on the link you click, you can find text, images, videos, sounds or a mix of everything.
  9. Text takes the least amount of data whereas videos take up the most amount of data.
  10. This becomes an equal exchange where you are trading data for knowledge, entertainment or updates.

This is the simplest way to explain the internet.

Next, we need to understand how we create our identity on the internet through which people can recognise us by.

Creating an identity on the internet

Human beings love to leave a mark of their presence wherever they go: cave paintings, hand carved stone, etc are remarkable proofs of our need to assert that we exist and we have abilities that are needed in society.

How do you then go ahead and leave a mark on the internet?

First, you need an identity.

This identity will help others recognise you.

If you have seen a blog post or social media post or tweet and wanted to leave a comment, your own personal thoughts, then you will be asked to sign up.

And to sign up, you will most likely need an email address or phone number.

Simple things to do when you are new to the internet

When you are new to the internet, you want to create an identity which can be seen and recognised by others.

To do that, you will first need an email address that is used by other websites to recognise you, send you updates and notify you on your progress as you make your mark.

Get an email address first if you are new to the internet

Getting an email address is the first step if you are new to the internet. This is a unique alphanumeric address that distinguishes you from the rest. It also asks you to enter a password so only you can access it, like a code to a locker.

Majority of people on the internet use Gmail by Google to get an email address and use its other products:

  1. Google Drive: you can store your photos, videos and files online.
  2. Google Sheets: you can create spreadsheets for work and tracking personal activities.
  3. Google Docs: used to create documents for work, personal use, writing scripts for a movie, etc.
  4. Google Slides: used for presentations at office (as boring as it sounds).

So where's the fun stuff and how do I leave a mark?

Websites worth visiting and signing up for 

Once you have an email, you can sign up on various websites. This will be done using the email address you have created.

For each platform, you can choose your own password where I recommend using a different password for each platform and remembering it.

If you have a Gmail account, you can use the "Sign up with Google" option to quickly create an account when you sign up.

I have created a list of websites for you that you must visit:

  1. Google - you can search for anything; it's like an online directory; it does not require a sign up always but it's definitely the site you will use when you are new.
  2. Wikipedia - this is the internet's encyclopaedia. You can search for anything and it will give you articles to read about - helpful if you want to save data.
  3. YouTube - just like Google, YouTube is a massive search engine but for videos; you can catch up on sports, movies, documentaries while also witnessing content created by people.
  4. Facebook - this will be your first social media account; Facebook is great to use if you are old and want to connect with people you knew a decade ago or so.
  5. ​Instagram - a majority of the world spends its time on this app where you can see photos, videos and Reels (short content). Be careful about how much time you spend here or on TikTok, another social media app that focuses on grabbing your attention.
  6. X (Twitter) - X is a mix of posts, blogs, text, images, videos, live streaming and audio rooms; it is here perhaps that most people voice their thoughts and millions agree with it. You can use X to stay updated with recent news as well as find a community for your interests and hobbies.
  7. Reddit - this platform focuses on communities that have varied interests. People prefer anonymity here, so this works well if you do not wish to reveal your legal name.
  8. Medium - you can read blog posts from individual writers and become one too.
  9. Quora - here is where people ask and get answers to specific questions.
  10. Pinterest - works great for creating moodboards and finding visual inspiration.

Note: this list is specific keeping in mind what a new user of the internet will most likely frequent; if you have more suggestions, please get in touch with me on X (anthonysmendes).

Over time you will most likely register to websites and apps providing different services:

  1. Banking services offered by your country's bank(s).
  2. Shopping services like Amazon, Flipkart, etc
  3. Dating and matrimonial apps.
  4. Food and grocery delivery apps.

Websites you should stay away from, a personal opinion:

  1. Pornographic websites.
  2. Betting and prediction based winning apps.
  3. Websites that promise great returns on investment.
  4. Websites that want your credentials.
  5. Websites promising you to meet the perfect partner near you for explicit purposes.

After reading the above, you might be concerned about the ill effects of the internet. Let me list some.

Things to be careful of when you are new to the internet:

  1. Websites selling items that are illegal in your country.
  2. Emails or messages on social media promising money for a small monetary favour.
  3. Hate comments - most are bots who are not real people and others are sad people who cannot see others happy.
  4. Impersonation - someone pretending to be a famous or well respected person in order to steal from you.
  5. Lucrative deals on shopping and items that seem too good to be true.
  6. Clicking on links from emails you do not trust; this can be used to steal your email address password and use it for malicious intent that will malign your image.

Some of these sound like terrible ways to make money. But are there any legal and safe ways to make money?

How to make money if you are new to the internet?

how to make money if you are new to the internet


For every person, money and wealth is important especially if you are financially not in a good spot.

If you are new to the internet and are unsure how to make money, let me be of help.

How you can get paid on the internet as a new user

If you want to earn money from the internet, you will need to have a bank account that can receive payments too. Make sure that is setup first.

Now I will explain the few well established methods people use to make money:

  1. Provide a product or service: you sell an item or offer a service and people pay a one time or monthly fee to get the item or service.
  2. Affiliates: you endorse a product and the seller pays you a small percentage when someone buys from you.
  3. Impressions: if you run a blog, social media account or YouTube channel or a streaming service, you can get paid depending on the number of people viewing the content. This can take years of effort before it can make more than your salary.
  4. Dropshipping: you buy an item for cheap, then sell it for a high price.

Indirectly, you can use the internet to apply for jobs and earn money once you are hired; if you do not have any skills that you can monetise or use to apply for a job, the next section is just for you.

Skills that can help you land a job or offer a service

I am mentioning skills that can help you get a job or offer a service with the software or platform that's free or affordable to use.

  1. Writing: copywriting, blog post writing, etc. You can use Google Docs to write.
  2. Graphic design: social media graphics, posts, etc. You can use Canva or Photopea since they are both free. Figma is great too.
  3. Video editing: short form Reels, videos for commercial usage, etc. DaVinci Resolve is one of the best free options.
  4. 3D modeling: create models of real world objects; Blender and Spline are free options.
  5. Music production: create SFX, music and soundscapes; FL Studio is free with some limitations.
  6. Web design: create websites for brands, businesses and individuals. You can learn HTML, CSS and Javascript to create basic websites or use Framer to create websites with no coding experience.
  7. Virtual assistant: you can offer your hours as a VA to a professional that is busy; here you schedule their calendar, take notes during meetings and keep them up to date with everything.

This was all I could think of when it comes to things you can do if you are new to the internet.

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Written and published as a tribute to my guardian, love you always.