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- An unsorted link collection of interesting and retro websites (no longer maintained)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