CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
            SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                 ABOUT.COM, INC.

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 242 OF THE GENERAL
                    CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

                -----------------------------------------------

            About.com, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and
existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the "DGCL"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

            FIRST: That the second and third sentences of Section A of Article
IV of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation, stating the total number of shares the Corporation is authorized to
issue, are hereby amended to read as follows:

                  The total number of shares which the Corporation is authorized
      to issue is 105,000,000 shares. 100,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per
      share, shall be Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per
      share, shall be Preferred Stock.

            SECOND: That the foregoing amendment has been duly adopted in
      accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the DGCL.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to
be signed by Scott P. Kurnit, its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board of Directors, this 9th day of May 2000.


                                     By: /s/ Scott P. Kurnit
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Scott P. Kurnit
                                         Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
                                         the Board of Directors

ATTEST:


/s/ Alan P. Blaustein
-------------------------------
Alan P. Blaustein, Secretary

<PAGE>

                       CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP AND MERGER

                                     MERGING

                               MININGCO.COM, INC.

                                      WITH

                                 ABOUT.COM, INC.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Pursuant to Section 253 of the
                General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      MiningCo.com, Inc. (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing
under the General Corporation Laws of the State of Delaware,

      DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

      FIRST: That the Company owns all of the outstanding shares of About.com,
Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.

      SECOND: That the Company, by the following resolutions of its Board of
Directors, duly adopted by written consent dated as of May 10, 1999, pursuant to
Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
determined to merge About.com, Inc. into itself on the terms and conditions set
forth in such resolutions:

            RESOLVED that About.com, Inc. be merged with and into the Company
            and that the Company be the surviving corporation in such merger.

            FURTHER RESOLVED that the merger shall become effective upon the
            date and time of the filing of a Certificate of Ownership and Merger
            with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

            FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the effectiveness of the merger, the
            Company shall assume all of the liabilities and obligations of
            About.com, Inc.

            FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the effectiveness of the merger, the name

<PAGE>

            of the Company shall be changed to "About.com, Inc." and Article I
            of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
            the Company shall be amended to read as follows:

                        "The name of the corporation is About.com, Inc. (the
                        "Corporation")."

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said MiningCo.com, Inc. has caused this certificate to
be signed by Scott Kurnit, its President and Chief Executive Officer, and
attested by Robert Harris, its Assistant Secretary, this 11 day of May, 1999.

                                           MININGCO.COM, INC.


                                           By: /s/ Scott Kurnit
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Scott Kurnit, President and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer


By: /s/ Robert Harris
    -----------------------------------
    Robert Harris, Assistant Secretary


                                       2
<PAGE>

            SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                               MININGCO.COM, INC.

                  (Pursuant to Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the
                General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

            MiningCo.com, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"General Corporation Law"),

            DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

            FIRST: That the Corporation filed its original Certificate of
Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware on November 17, 1998. On
December 15, 1998, the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. A
Certificate of Merger was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware on December 24, 1998. On March 19, 1999, the Corporation filed a
Certificate of Amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.

            SECOND: That the Board of Directors duly adopted resolutions
proposing to amend and restate the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, declaring said amendment and restatement to be
advisable and in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, and
authorizing the appropriate officers of the Corporation to solicit the consent
of the stockholders of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, $0.001 par
value, and Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, voting as a single class and as
separate classes, all in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections
228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;

            THIRD: That the resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and
restatement is as follows:

            "RESOLVED, that the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
            Incorporation of the Corporation be amended and restated in its
            entirety as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                      Name

                The name of the Corporation is MiningCo.com, Inc.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

                                Registered Office

            The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State
of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street in the City of
Wilmington, State of Delaware 19801, County of New Castle. The name of its
registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                   Powers/Term

            The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation
Law. The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                  Capital Stock

            A. Classes of Stock.The Corporation is authorized to issue two
classes of stock to be designated, respectively, "Common Stock" and "Preferred
Stock." The total number of shares which the Corporation is authorized to issue
is 55,000,000 shares. 50,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share, shall be
Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share, shall be
Preferred Stock. The consideration for the issuance of the shares shall be paid
to or received by the Corporation in full before their issuance and shall not be
less than the par value per share. The number of authorized shares of Common
Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof
then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of
Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

            B. Common Stock.

            (1) General. All shares of Common Stock will be identical and will
entitle the holders thereof to the same rights, powers and privileges. The
rights, powers and privileges of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to
and qualified by the rights of holders of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

            (2) Dividends. Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common
Stock from funds lawfully available therefor as and when determined by the Board
of Directors and subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then
outstanding Preferred Stock.

            (3) Dissolution, Liquidation or Winding Up. In the event of any
dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation,
whether voluntary or involuntary, each issued and outstanding share of Common
Stock shall entitle the holder thereof

<PAGE>

to receive an equal portion of the net assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to the holders of Common Stock, subject to any preferential rights
of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

            (4) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law or this
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each holder of Common Stock
shall have one vote in respect of each share of stock held of record by such
holder on the books of the Corporation for the election of directors and on all
matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation. Except as
otherwise required by law or provided herein, holders of Preferred Stock shall
vote together with holders of Common Stock as a single class, subject to any
special or preferential voting rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.
There shall be no cumulative voting.

            (5) Redemption. The Common Stock is not redeemable.

            C. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to
limitations prescribed by law, by the rules of a national securities exchange,
if applicable, and by the provisions of this ARTICLE IV, to provide for the
issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in series, and by filing a certificate
pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish from time
to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the
designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each such series
and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

            The authority of the Board with respect to each series shall
include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

            (1) The number of shares constituting that series and the
distinctive designation of that series;

            (2) The dividend rate on the shares of that series, whether
dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from which date or dates, and the
relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that
series;

            (3) Whether that series shall have voting rights, in addition to the
voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

            (4) Whether that series shall have conversion privileges, and, if
so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provision for
adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall
determine;

            (5) Whether or not the shares of that series shall be redeemable,
and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or
dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share
payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions
and at different redemption dates;

            (6) Whether that series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption
or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such
sinking fund;

<PAGE>

            (7) The rights of the shares of that series in the event of
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of shares
of that series; and

            (8) Any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that
series.

            Dividends on outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be paid or
declared and set apart for payment before any dividends shall be paid or
declared and set apart for payment on the Common Stock with respect to the same
dividend period.

            If upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, the assets available for distribution to holders
of shares of Preferred Stock of all series shall be insufficient to pay such
holders the full preferential amount to which they are entitled, then such
assets shall be distributed ratably among the shares of all series of Preferred
Stock in accordance with the respective preferential amounts (including unpaid
cumulative dividends, if any) payable with respect thereto.

            D. Preemptive Rights. No holder of any of the shares of any class or
series of stock or of options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of
any class or series of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall
have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series, or any unissued bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures
or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock of any class or
series or carrying any right to purchase stock of any class or series; but any
such unissued stock, bonds, certificates or indebtedness, debentures or other
securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock or carrying any right to
purchase stock may be issued pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation to such persons, firms, corporations or associations, whether or
not holders thereof, and upon such terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board
of Directors in the exercise of its sole discretion.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                    Directors

            A. Number. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be such
number, not less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) (exclusive of
directors, if any, to be elected by holders of preferred stock of the
Corporation, voting separately as a class), as shall be set forth from time to
time in the bylaws. Vacancies in the Board of Directors of the Corporation,
however caused, and newly created directorships shall be filled by a vote of a
majority of the directors then in office, whether or not a quorum, and any
director so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting
of stockholders at which the term of the class to which the director has been
chosen expires and when the director's successor is elected and qualified.

            B. Removal of Directors. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Certificate or the By-laws of the Corporation, any director or the entire
Board of Directors of the Corporation may be removed, at any time, but only for
cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66.67% of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one
class)

<PAGE>

cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of preferred stock
of the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect
one or more directors of the Corporation, the preceding provisions of this
ARTICLE V shall not apply with respect to the director or directors elected by
such holders of preferred stock.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                              Stockholder Meetings

            Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of
Delaware, as the By-laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept
(subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside the State of
Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors or in the By-laws of the Corporation. The stockholders of the
Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                       Limitation of Directors' Liability

            Except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of Delaware
prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches
of fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to
the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such
liability. If the General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the
stockholders of this ARTICLE VII to authorize corporate action further
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability
of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest
extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as so
amended. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any
effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation
for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to
such amendment.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                 Indemnification

            The Corporation may, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145
of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as amended from time to time,
indemnify each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he
is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Corporation, or
is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Corporation, as
a director, officer or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including
any employee benefit plan) (all such persons being referred to hereafter as an
"Indemnitee"), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted
in

<PAGE>

such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or
on his behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal
therefrom.

            Indemnification may include payment by the Corporation of expenses
in defending an action or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such
action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by the Indemnitee to repay
such payment if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to
indemnification under this ARTICLE VIII, which undertaking may be accepted
without reference to the financial ability of such person to make such
repayment.

            The Corporation shall not indemnify any such person seeking
indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by
such person unless the initiation thereof was approved by the Board of Directors
of the Corporation.

            The indemnification rights provided in this ARTICLE VIII (i) shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitees may be entitled
under any law, agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, and (ii) shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such persons. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized
from time to time by its Board of Directors, grant indemnification rights to
other employees or agents of the Corporation or other persons serving the
Corporation and such rights may be equivalent to, or greater or less than, those
set forth in this ARTICLE VIII.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                               Amendment of Bylaws

            In furtherance of and not in limitation of powers conferred by
statute, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to
adopt, repeal, alter, amend and rescind the bylaws of the Corporation by vote of
66.67% of the Board of Directors.

                                    ARTICLE X

                            Amendment of Certificate

            The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal
any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights
conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in ARTICLES VII, VIII,
IX and this ARTICLE X may not be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded in any
respect unless the same is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of
not less than 66.67% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered
for this purpose as a single class) cast at a meeting of the stockholders

<PAGE>

called for that purpose (provided that notice of such proposed repeal,
alteration, amendment or rescission is included in the notice of such meeting).

                                      * * *

            FOURTH: That said amendments were duly adopted in accordance with
the provisions of Section 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law.

<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation has been signed by the President and the Assistant Secretary of
the Corporation this 26 day of March, 1999.


                                        /s/  Scott Kurnit
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Scott Kurnit
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer
                                          and Chairman of the Board of Directors


                                        /s/ Robert Harris
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Robert Harris
                                        Secretary