First, let’s admit that there is a difference between ‘valued’ and ‘useful.’ That which is valued isn’t always productive, and that which is useful isn’t always fun. It is an important distinction to make, especially when discussing websites and one’s web surfing habits.

Most Visited Sites

The internet gives us unprecedented access to news, information, communication and more; it’s also one of the greatest and most popular ways for people all over the world to waste time.

When we look at the most recent data about the world’s most visited websites, we can assume that there’s an almost equal balance between those who use the web for information and those who use it for entertainment. Where does your favourite site rank?

According to Alexa.com, a global leader in internet market research, as of 18th August 2010, the most popular websites in the world are:

1. Google (www.google.com)

The world’s most powerful search engine, Google lets users comb the web for articles, sites, images, and video. The site’s top features include PageRank, caching, the option to locate similar pages, and translation of results.

2. Facebook (www.facebook.com)

A social networking behemoth, Facebook connects over 500 million users worldwide. Members can catch up with old friends, upload photos and videos, share links, chat, and more.

3. YouTube (www.youtube.com)

Users can upload 15 minute-long video clips of just about anything, sharing original content, webisodes, home movies, advertising, and more. Clips can be tagged for easier searches and sharing.

4. Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com)

Yahoo! is a popular internet landing page, featuring news, search, groups, live chat, weather, email, and more. Millions of users trust Yahoo!’s free email server, and the homepage can be customized for personalized content based on preferences, location, and other factors.

5. Windows Live (www.live.com)

Microsoft’s popular search engine doesn’t quite challenge Google for market share, but it is still a trusted destination for loyal Microsoft users. The site also offers access to other content and features including chat and email.

6. Baidu (www.baidu.com)

As millions of Chinese citizens come online, the Chinese-language search engine Baidu has seen a surge in usage. The site provides a simple, reliable experience that is strong in Chinese content and multi-media including digital music and movies. Baidu is the first site to offer WAP and PDA-compatible mobile search in China.

7. Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)

This virtual encyclopaedia allows users to enter content about any topic imaginable. Each entry is open to collaborative editing, and data is checked regularly for reliability, objectivity, and authentic source citations.

8. Blogger (www.blogger.com)

This is a free, automated blog publishing tool that allows users to create, maintain, and promote personal weblogs. It is also a popular destination for blog followers, who check in daily to read the latest entries from their favourites.

9. MSN (www.msn.com)

MSN is Microsoft’s portal for news, financial information, stocks, shopping, email, search, live chat and more. MSN, like Yahoo!, is a popular internet landing page.

10. Twitter (www.twitter.com)

Twitter is a wildly popular social network and micro blogging site that allows users to update their accounts via instant messaging, SMS text, or the internet.