Using the internet is simple and straightforward and allows public access to anyone, even seniors. The basics of the internet are setting up email and getting in contact with friends and family, learning your homepage, exploring the internet, and learning the endless possibilities of the web.
Even if you have never turned on your computer, you can be browsing the web and finding the information you need within minutes. To access the internet, just click on your internet service provider. If you don’t know what that is, try internet explorer which is most common for broadband users. If you have a dial-up connection through your phone line, you must install an ISP such as AOL or NETZERO.

Once you have established an internet connection the next step is to set up an email account so you can receive notifications. Whether you want the latest coupons or recipe updates from your favorite shows or emails of pictures from your grandchildren, your email account allows you access to people around the world. To set up an email account, just go to your internet service provider’s webpage and click “create an account.” It’s as simple as that. If you chose to go with an independent email organization, you can chose from yahoo, hotmail, AOL, or even Gmail. The possibilities are endless, and many sites offer different services.

After you create your email account and have gained access to the internet you need to learn how to navigate your homepage and find your favorite sites. In the address bar at the top of the page, type in the website you wish to visit. If you want to check out breaking news, type in the web address of your favorite news station. From their website, most often, you can watch streaming videos of what’s happening now as well as view past articles and videos from an event you weren’t able to catch. Did you miss your favorite show? This also applies to television shows. Go to the station’s webpage and you can catch up on the episode you have missed.

The Internet gives you contact with the entire world at the click of a button. You can pay bills, watch shows, talk with friends and family, and even meet people from different parts of the world. When you learn to use the internet correctly, you can do almost anything right from home. Get online, seniors.

Here’s a brief video I’ve included that shows some of the basics of surfing the web: