How to surf the web

The internet is huge but the average person only sees a tiny fraction of it.

There is a huge problem with content discovery on the internet today. Between how backed up the search engines are with ‘SEO Optimized Content’ and social media platforms luring us into algorithmic echo-chambers, how are we supposed to actually stoke our digital wanderlust?

Link Directories

These are lists of links, usually curated by a single person or group. They can be a great place to find new and unique websites.

• AcidJaw’s Links We Like
  • A collection of links organized by the folks at Neozones
• Cybervenus’ Directory
  • A list of links compiled in a SpaceHey blog by user cybervenus
• Gossip’s Web
  • A categorized directory of user-submitted handmade websites from around the web
• hacktivis.me’s Bookmarks
  • A collection of categorized websites, mostly tech-related
• HREF Hunt
  • A monthly roundup of neat sites discovered round the web
• href.cool
  • A directory of categorized interesting & unique links
• Marjin’s Linkroll
  • A tagged collection of hypertext curiosities
• Peelopaalu’s Link Directory
  • An unsorted link collection of interesting and retro websites (no longer maintained)
• rabidroden’s Links
  • A collection of categorized links to fun and interesting websites
• Terra’s Directory
  • Cool sites, straight from earth (tagged)
• youtuube’s Websites
  • A categorized list of websites
• Yesterlinks
  • An archive of a former link directory

Random Site Generators

Remember StumbleUpon? It was the digital equivalent of channel surfing for the web - a delightful blend of discovery, randomness, and serendipity. While nothing today replicates its full charm, a few modern tools carry its exploratory spirit.

• Jumpstick
• ViralWalk
• StumbleUponAwesome (Browser extension)
• BoredButton
• The Useless Web
• Sharkle
• Cloudhiker
• ShuffleMe
• TheRandomWeb

Search Engines

Google is a filter bubble stuffed with the same sanitized top-10 results. If you’re craving the weird, the old, or the personal corners of the web, these alternative search engines offer a more eclectic experience.

• Marginalia.nu
  • A search engine for exploring the web.
• GifCities
  • A search engine for Geocities-era gifs
• SearchMySite
  • An open source search engine for personal and independent websites
• Oldavista
  • A search engine for old websites hosted in services like Geocities, Angelfire, AOL, Tripod, etc.
• VHSearch
  • Neocities search engine
• Teclis
  • a non-commercial web search engine
• Wiby.me
  • search engine for the classic web
• BoardReader
  • search engine for message boards & forums