The internet has drastically changed the way people live and work. Not only has it made communicating easier, but it has also opened up a whole world of new possibilities. Here are five things you can now do online that weren’t possible before the internet:
1. Start a business.
In the past, starting a business required a lot of capital and risk. You needed to rent or buy a storefront, buy inventory, hire employees, and hope that customers would come. Nowadays, you can start an online business with very little upfront investment. All you need is a domain name, website hosting, and maybe a few dollars for some advertising.
You could also do some freelance work or sell products via delivery. There are endless opportunities to make money online. You can start a blog and monetize it with advertising, sell products or services on an e-commerce site, trade stocks or cryptocurrency, or even participate in affiliate marketing programs.
In essence, the internet has lowered the barriers to entry for starting a business. This has made it easier for people with great ideas to get started and turn their dreams into reality.
2. Learn anything.
In the past, if you wanted to learn something new, you had to either go back to school or find a good book on the subject. But now, countless resources are available online for learning about anything you want. There are free online courses, YouTube videos, articles, blog posts—you name it.
And if you want to get formal education without going back to school, there are now many accredited online colleges and universities offering everything from associate’s degrees to Ph.Ds. You can get a certified professional degree online in web development, digital marketing, and project management.
The internet has made learning more accessible than ever before. So if you’re interested in picking up a new skill or knowledge, there’s no excuse not to take advantage of the vast array of resources available online.
3. Find the perfect home.
In the past, if you were looking for a new home, you would have to drive around or look through real estate listings in the newspaper. But now you can search for homes online and get a much better idea of what’s out there.
Many websites and apps allow you to search for homes based on your specific criteria. You can filter by price, location, size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and more. You can even search about different mortgage types and compare interest rates to find the best deal.
Moreover, you can take a virtual tour of some homes before deciding whether you want to schedule an in-person viewing. In short, the internet has made finding a new home much easier and more convenient.
4. Stay connected with friends and family.
In the past, staying in touch with friends and family meant either writing letters or making phone calls (long-distance charges apply!). Nowadays, there are so many ways to stay connected with the people you care about no matter where they are in the world—email, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, and video calling apps like Skype and FaceTime. The list goes on.
What’s more, with sites like Facebook, you can stay in touch with the people you know and meet new people who share your interests. This is a great way to make new friends and expand your social circle.
The internet has made it easier than ever to stay connected with the people you care about, no matter where they are in the world.
5. Shop for anything.
In the past, if you wanted to buy something—say, a new pair of shoes—you would have to go to the store and hope they had what you wanted in your size (and if not, tough luck). But nowadays, you can shop for just about anything online 24/7—clothes, electronics, groceries, and even cars!
Plus, thanks to fast shipping options, you can often get your purchases delivered right to your doorstep within a matter of days (or even hours). In addition, you can often find better deals online than you can in stores.
The internet has made shopping more convenient and affordable than ever before. So if you’re looking to buy something, there’s a good chance you can find it online.
The internet has drastically changed people’s lives in so many ways—some of which are taken for granted. The next time you’re feeling grateful for the internet (and who isn’t?), remember all the wonderful things it has made possible that weren’t possible before it came along.
