Virtual Hangouts 2.0 – What’s Hot (and not) for Teens and Tweens
Social Networking & Photos
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com (the top social network in the world)
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com (newly revamped and relaunched – will it fly again?)
Tumblr - http://www.tumblr.com (social networking blog)
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com (sharing your life in 140 characters or less)
Ask.FM - http://www.ask.fm (anonymous question forum)
Instagram - http://www.instagram.com (photographs with filters)
Imgur - http://www.imgur.com (easy photo sharing)
Reddit - http://www.reddit.com (user-generated news, photos, and videos with scoring)
4Chan - http://www.4chan.org (discussion forums – caution!)
Videos, TV, & Movies
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com (the biggest name in user-uploaded videos)
Vimeo – http://www.vimeo.com (high-def user videos, faster than YouTube)
Hulu - http://www.hulu.com (streaming television shows and anime)
Netflix – http://www.netflix.com (streaming television, movies, and anime)
Anime/Cartoons & Manga
Manga Fox - http://www.mangafox.me (free manga)
Anime Flavor - http://www.animeflavor.com (free streaming anime - careful)
CrunchyRoll - http://www.crunchyroll.com (streaming anime – all subtitled)
Funimation - http://www.funimation.com (streaming Funimation anime – mostly paid)
Anime News Network - http://www.animenewsnetwork.com (huge anime info database)
Cosplay.com - http://www.cosplay.com (world’s largest cosplay community)
Equestria Daily – http://www.equestriadaily.com (all things My Little Pony)
Hub World: MLP - http://www.hubworld.com/my-little-pony/shows/friendship-is-magic
Fan Fiction
FanFiction.net - http://www.fanfiction.net (user-created fiction stories)
Dokuga - http://www.dokuga.com (typically anime & manga fan fiction)
Ashwinder – http://ashwinder.sycophantex.com (typically Harry Potter fan fiction – caution!)
Archive of Our Own – http://www.archiveofourown.org (members only - fan-run, noncommercial)
Music, Art, Hobbies
Pandora - http://www.pandora.com (customizable music stations)
Rhapsody - http://www.rhapsody.com (subscription listening service)
Slacker Radio - http://www.slacker.com (personalized streaming radio)
I Heart Radio - http://www.iheart.com (free and customizable radio stations)
Deviant Art - http://www.deviantart.com (artist gallery and forum)
Pivix - http://www.pivix.net (Japanese online art community)
Gimp - http://www.gimp.org (free Photoshop alternative)
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com (customizable pin boards)
Clipboard – http://www.clipboard.com (Pinterest alternative – posts large web snippets)
Craft Gawker - http://www.craftgawker.com (handmade craft and art gallery)
Humor and Entertainment (Memes!)
Cheezburger Network - http://www.cheezburger.com/ (humorous sites and memes)
Pop Hangover Network – http://www.pophangover.com (humorous site collection)
Damn LOL – http://www.damnlol.com (funny pictures)
College Humor - http://www.collegehumor.com (minor caution)
Ebaum’s World - http://www.ebaumsworld.com/ (random humor and videos)
Cleverbot – http://www.cleverbot.com (speak with a real, live robot!)
Video Chat
Chat Roulette - http://www.chatroulette.com (caution!)
Omegle - http://www.omegle.com (caution!)
Tiny Chat - http://www.tinychat.com (caution!)
Web Comics
Looking for Group (LFG) – http://www.lfgcomic.com (fantasy)
Cyanide & Happiness - http://www.explosm.net (humor with crude drawings)
Gun Show Comics - http://www.gunshowcomic.com (random comics)
LOL Comics - http://www.prguitarman.com (Nyan Cat guy)
MS Paint Adventures (Homestuck) - http://www.mspaintadventures.com (hugely popular)
MMORPGs – Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games
World of Warcraft – http://us.battle.net/wow/ (the top MMORPG)
Dungeons & Dragons Online - http://www.ddo.com (free to play D&D)
World of Tanks - http://www.worldoftanks.com (tank-based MMO)
Terra – http://tera.enmasse.com (action MMO)
Ragnarok - http://www.ragnarokonline.com (Korean 2D/3D MMO)
Fiesta – http://fiesta.outspark.com (Korean manga-style MMO)
Wizard 101 - http://www.wizard101.com (Harry Potter style MMO for tweens)
Monkey Quest - http://www.monkeyquest.com (Monkey combat for tweens)
Free Realms - http://www.freerealms.com (fantasy adventure for tweens)
Games
Gaia Online - http://www.gaiaonline.com (anime-like game and social network)
Club Penguin - http://www.clubpenguin.com (virtual penguins for tweens – gateway RPG)
Addicting Games - http://www.addictinggames.com (free browser games)
Adult Swim Games – http://games.adultswim.com (Adult Swim Channel - minor caution)
Steam - http://store.steampowered.com (PC game downloads)
Giant Bomb - http://www.giantbomb.com (largest video game database – news & reviews)
Game Spy - http://www.gamespy.com (game news, tips, cheats, etc.)
Shopping
This Is Why I’m Broke - http://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/ (unique, geeky gift ideas)
Think Geek - http://www.thinkgeek.com (techy and nerdy shopping)
Tee Fury - http://www.teefury.com (new, hip t-shirts every day)
Plastic Land – http://www.shopplasticland.com (retro and indie apparel and goods)
Woot! – http://www.woot.com (random new sales every day)
Miscellaneous
Something Awful - http://www.somethingawful.com (news and reviews – caution!)
Science Daily – http://www.sciencedaily.com (cool science news)
Did You Kno? – http://did-you-kno.tumblr.com (random, questionable “facts”)
Akinator: The Web Genie - http://en.akinator.com/ (20 Questions to stump the genie)
Urban Dictionary – http://www.urbandictionary.com (funny definitions and street slang)
What’s Not So Hot
Live Journal - http://www.livejournal.com (personal blogging)
Blogger - http://www.blogger.com (personal blogging)
RuneScape – http://www.runescape.com (old-fashioned fantasy MMORPG)
NeoPets - http://www.neopets.com (former tween game and collection site)
Webkinz - http://www.webkinz.com (real stuffed animals played with online – tweens)
Contact Information:
Paul Stonebridge – Teen Services Manager, Pasco County Library System
[email protected]
813-929-1214, 813-391-0668 (cell)