Back in the aughts, the internet was a totally different landscape. Surfing the web without abandon, I often found the funniest, most addictive, and weirdest corners online. Whether they knew it or not, these sites basically shaped a generation.
1. Kiddo Net
All the cool kids were on Kiddo Net. Parents approved of the educational content so it was easy to sit down and play for hours without interruption. Luckily, most parents didn't look too closely at the game center, which had dozens of non-math related games!
2. Girl Sense
Before Instagram models set the trends, we flocked to Girl Sense for all things fashion and make-up! So you can blame this site for those choppy side bangs you just had to have in 7th grade...
3. Newgrounds
4. FunnyJunk
5. Homestar Runner
6. eBaum's World
7. Rather Good
8. Formspring
remember formspring
Formspring was a site where you could ask and answer questions from anonymous users. Naturally, as children, many abused the platform for purposes of cyberbullying. Be careful mentioning Formspring to your Zillennial friends because it may bring up some less than pleasant memories.
9. Dollz Mania
I vividly remember dressing goth girls on Dollz Mania. Meanwhile, I was probably wearing a Limited Too graphic tee and gauchos. These pixelated dress up characters were a staple of the early web. You knew someone was a bad bitch if their AOL avatar was created here.
10. Doll Palace
Doll Palace was another regularly visited dress up site. Someone put these dolls in the Smithsonian so we never forget this important piece of aughts history.
11. Weebl's Stuff
12. GaiaOnline
13. Picnik
14. FanFiction
15. Omegle
Omegle is a video and messaging website that links you with other random users around the world. If you've ever been messaged, "asl?" then you probably spent hours on Omegle meeting strangers online.
16. Making Fiends
This quirky flash web series dropped in 2003 and was later made into a short lived Nickelodeon series. Making Fiends followed the journey of villainous Vendetta, her army of fiends, and sweet Charlotte who just wanted to be friends. You can still find the original webisodes and the series here!
17. Neopets
Back in the day you logged onto Neopets to care for your creatures, play games, and run around with faeries. The world of Neopia even had its own economy to keep you playing for points and making money. The thrill you got from spinning the Wheel of Excitement was unmatched...until Webkinz dropped their Wheel of Wow.
18. Webkinz
Webkinz were stuffed animals you could buy and then register online. Your adopted virtual pets had homes you could decorate with KinzCash collected from playing games. You made sure to log on everyday so you could collect your rare gems from Arte's mine and spin the Wheel of Wow!
19. MiniClip
Miniclip was an extraordinary corner of the internet. There was a flash game for everyone on this site! Bubble Trouble, Raft Wars, and Crypt Raider were responsible for many missed homework assignments.
20. Toontown
21. Habbo Hotel
22. StumbleUpon
23. Poptropica
24. Zwinky
If you weren't causing trouble at the mall, you were probably roaming around on Zwinky. You got to make yourself into an avatar, play dress up, and explore different chat rooms.
25. Akinator
You might not remember Akinator, but he definitely remembers you. This genie could guess literally anyone you're thinking of simply by asking you questions. We used to huddle around at sleepovers trying to stump him with obscure TV, movie, or book characters.
26. Quizilla
27. Addicting Games
28. Millsberry
Another interesting corner of the internet were cereal gaming websites. Millsberry.com was an online extension of General Mills. The arcade made us drool for Cinnamon Toast Crunch!
29. Postopia
Post Cereals also had a website for kids! Honeycomb Stunt Bike, Cocoa Pebbles Boulder Dash, Waffle Boys Mountain Adventure, and Bedrock Bobsleddin' Blowout were some of the most fun games you could find online.
30. Club Penguin
Last, but not least, Club Penguin was the ultimate time sucker. You'd run off the bus yelling at your friends to meet you at the iceberg and spend the whole afternoon trying to tip it. I hope that someone out there is feeding my puffles...
Warning: Club Penguin does not cure nostalgia induced depression.