20 Websites Everyone Visited in the 2000s

Before smartphones took over, the internet of the 2000s had its own set of legendary websites. These were the places where you killed time, made friends, shared music, or just tried to be part of something bigger online. Here is a look back at the 20 websites everyone seemed to visit in the 2000s.

1. 1. MSN Messenger

MSN Messenger was the heartbeat of early online communication. People spent hours chatting, sharing emoticons, and sending playful nudges to grab attention. Custom statuses and dramatic song lyrics were everyone’s way of expressing mood. It was where countless friendships and teenage romances quietly bloomed behind computer screens.

2. 2. Wikipedia (Early Years)

Wikipedia launched in 2001 and changed how people searched for information forever. It gave anyone the power to edit and contribute knowledge on almost any topic imaginable. Teachers doubted its credibility, but students used it anyway for quick answers. It became the ultimate encyclopedia of the internet age.

3. 3. DeviantArt

DeviantArt was a safe haven for artists before social media took over. It allowed users to share digital drawings, photography, and creative writing with a supportive community. Fans bonded over fantasy art, anime, and original characters. For many, it was the first place their art ever found an audience.

4. 4. Miniclip

Miniclip was the go-to site for free online games long before app stores existed. It hosted everything from racing challenges to addictive puzzle games. Students would sneak in a few rounds during computer class or after school. It turned boredom into competition one Flash game at a time.

5. 5. LimeWire

LimeWire gave music lovers a way to download songs instantly — but at a risky cost. It was known for spreading viruses almost as fast as it shared MP3s. Still, it was how millions of people discovered their favorite tracks and built homemade playlists. For better or worse, it shaped how people listened to music in the 2000s.

6. 6. Photobucket

Photobucket was the behind-the-scenes backbone of early social media. It stored millions of profile pictures, MySpace backgrounds, and glittery “Thanks for the add!” images. Everyone who coded their profile or blog needed a Photobucket link. Without it, half of the internet’s 2000s-era creativity would have vanished.

7. 7. RuneScape

RuneScape brought fantasy gaming to anyone with a browser and an imagination. Players fought monsters, traded items, and leveled up their characters in a massive online world. It was simple, social, and endlessly replayable. Even years later, fans still remember their usernames and favorite quests.

8. 8. Ebaumsworld

Ebaumsworld was the wild side of the early internet. It was packed with funny videos, bizarre images, and memes before memes were even a word. The content was often controversial, which made it even more appealing to curious teens. It was chaos — and that was exactly the charm.

9. 9. Gaia Online

Gaia Online blended anime culture, gaming, and social networking into one quirky site. Users created avatars, joined forums, and participated in roleplays. It felt like a digital world where creativity ruled and friendships blossomed. For many, it was their first introduction to fandom life.

10. 10. Newgrounds

Newgrounds was the birthplace of indie animation and gaming culture. Artists and coders uploaded Flash projects that were often hilarious, weird, or ahead of their time. It was a creative playground that pushed boundaries without filters. Some of today’s biggest game developers started right there.

11. 11. Addicting Games

Addicting Games lived up to its name with hundreds of browser games that were hard to quit. Students would secretly play it during computer classes, hoping teachers would not notice. It featured everything from sports games to cooking simulators. For many, it was their first taste of online gaming freedom.

12. 12. Habbo Hotel

Habbo Hotel turned chatting into a game of virtual life. Users created pixel avatars, built rooms, and hosted parties with online friends. It had a fun mix of creativity, chaos, and community. The quirky graphics made it feel like living in a cartoon world.

13. 13. LiveJournal

LiveJournal gave people a place to pour out their thoughts before social media became oversharing central. Writers, bloggers, and fan communities found their voice there. It was a space for long posts, raw emotions, and creative writing. Many of today’s internet fandom traditions started within its pages.

14. 14. Xanga

Xanga felt like a personal diary mixed with a social network. Users posted about school days, crushes, and random musings, often decorated with pixel hearts. It captured the emotional side of growing up online. For a generation of teens, it was therapy through HTML.

15. 15. Yahoo! Answers

Yahoo! Answers was the internet’s biggest question box, where curiosity and comedy collided. Users asked everything from serious life questions to completely bizarre ones. The best part was scrolling through the unpredictable answers. It turned confusion into community — one hilarious thread at a time.

16. 16. YouTube (Early Days)

When YouTube appeared in 2005, it felt revolutionary. Suddenly, anyone could upload a video and be seen by the world. The content ranged from dancing babies to heartfelt vlogs recorded on low-quality webcams. It was unpredictable, raw, and the start of a new kind of fame.

17. 17. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)

AIM was where teenagers built their digital identities one chat at a time. The “door open” sound meant your crush was online, and the “away message” was your emotional status update. Conversations ranged from deep talks to playful banter filled with emoticons. It made late-night chatting feel like a secret world.

18. 18. Friendster

Friendster was one of the first big social networking sites before Facebook took the spotlight. It was simple, fun, and full of friendly connections. People shared photos, testimonials, and memories long before “likes” existed. For many, it was their first taste of being part of an online network.

19. 19. Neopets

Neopets was a colorful universe where players raised virtual pets and explored magical lands. It blended games, trading, and storytelling in one addictive package. Kids learned about economics through its in-game currency without even realizing it. It made logging in every day feel like an adventure.

20. 20. MySpace

MySpace was the crown jewel of 2000s social life online. Users customized profiles with glitter, music, and HTML magic to show off their personality. Everyone obsessed over their “Top 8” and their background playlist. It was creativity, drama, and self-expression all rolled into one platform.

• Tags:
• 2000s internet
• retro websites
• online culture
• MySpace
• early internet