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First, kudos to you for getting started with investing at an early age. I'm not that much older than you but I already wish that I had known the things about money that I do now. Never underestimate the power of compounding interest and returns over time...
I'd first recommend trying to set a goal/objective. What exactly do you want to do with your investment funds? Do you want to sock it away for retirement? Hoping for a big account when you graduate college? Figure that out first before you invest your money.
I don't know the particulars of your financial situation, so I'll stick with general advice... given that you're 18, rather than going into day trading, I'd highly recommend starting a Roth IRA at a solid investment company. Look for a mutual fund that tracks the total stock market index. It'll be a solid return long-term and it being an index funds means that the management costs are low. Personally I use Vanguard but I'm sure just about any solid investment company will have comparable products. I'd try to max out your contribution every year, and this year it's at $5,000.
If you've still got some money to play with afterwards, then yeah, find a good online brokerage. I'd recommend zecco.com since they have zero commissions for a set amount of trades every month (it's like 10 or 20, I can't remember off the top of my head). I'd stay away from trying to speculate quickly as a day trader or foreign stocks, as tempting as it seems. If I were in your shoes, I'd put as much as I could in an IRA, then split the rest in an online savings account and an index fund.
Do keep us updated, it's always fascinating to talk about money/finances.
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