Internet Primer
So you’re new to the Internet?
Hopefully, this guide will be helpful as you familiarize yourself with the world wide web.
The absolute first thing you need to do is sign up for an e-mail address so that you may begin communicating with others. Very few websites will let you sign up without an e-mail address. Now, it is extremely likely that your ISP, or Internet Service Provider, has already provided you with an e-mail address or the means with which to set one up. ISP‘s such as AOL integrate e-mail into their software. If you are unsure whether you have an e-mail address or do not know how to access it, contact your ISP.
If you do not have an ISP-provided e-mail address of would like an additional e-mail address, you may sign up for one at a free e-mail service such as Gmail or Hotmail.
There are several things to keep in mind when choosing an e-mail address and password:
- Decide who will see your e-mail address and whether or not your e-mail address would be appropriate for their eyes (this is especially important if you will be using your e-mail address for anything work related)
- Keep your e-mail address easy to remember
- Be careful when using the number 0, the letter O, the number 1 and the letters I and L. These characters are often confused with one another
- It’s best to skip the capitalization. Some e-mail providers make no distinction between lowercase and capitalized letters but if yours does, it will be quite a hassle
- Do not include things like your address, birthday or personal information in your e-mail address
- Choose a password which is easy for you to remember but not easy for others to guess. Utilize letters and numbers
Once you have an e-mail address, you are able to perform the most basic of electronic communications, if not the most efficient. You can begin exchanging e-mails with friends, family and even your boss!
What next, you ask? That depends on why you want to use the internet – so why are you online?
