Life in the ’80s and ’90s was a magical mix of simplicity and creativity. We didn’t have smartphones or streaming services, so we made do with what we had—and honestly, we were pretty inventive! Some of the things we did back then might seem completely baffling to Gen Z today, but for us, they were just part of growing up. Let’s dive into 10 oddly specific things that made our childhoods so unique.
1. Waiting for Someone to Pick Up the Phone So You Could Ask Them to Hang Up the Internet
Remember when your sibling or parent was online and you needed to make an urgent call? You’d pick up the phone, hear the screeching modem sounds, and yell, “Get off the internet!” Dial-up internet was a luxury, but it tied up the phone line—making family negotiations part of your daily life.
2. Making Secret Notes with Gel Pens on Black Paper
Passing notes in class wasn’t just communication; it was an art form. Metallic gel pens and black paper were a status symbol, and writing your deepest secrets or doodling elaborate designs made each note a masterpiece. Today’s teens have emojis, but nothing compares to the sparkle of those gel pens.
3. Risking Life and Limb to Record Songs Off the Radio Without Talking Over the DJ
Making the perfect mixtape was a delicate operation. You’d hover over the ‘record’ button on your tape deck, waiting for the first beat of your favorite song—and hope the DJ didn’t talk over it. Sometimes, you just had to accept that a shout-out to “96.5 Kiss FM” would forever live on your playlist.
4. Creating Elaborate Answering Machine Messages with Your Family
Answering machines were like your personal podcast intro. You and your family might spend an afternoon recording a fun or themed voicemail, complete with background music or a cheesy rhyme. Gen Z’s voicemail skills? Let’s just say it’s a lost art.
5. Creeping Yourself Out with Scary Stories from Chain Letters
If you ever received a chain letter, you know the fear of breaking the chain was real. Whether it was a handwritten note or a creepy email in the early 2000s, the curse of bad luck—or worse, a ghost showing up—was enough to make you frantically copy it for your friends.
6. Recording Over Your Favorite VHS on Accident
The heartbreak was real when you accidentally taped over your recorded episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or Saved by the Bell. All it took was forgetting to block the record button, and suddenly your cherished memories were gone, replaced by a local news broadcast.
7. Turning a Slip-and-Slide Into a DIY Mud Pit
A summer day with the Slip-and-Slide was peak childhood joy—until the backyard turned into a muddy disaster. After a few hours of use, the once-shiny yellow plastic would become a slick swamp, but that only added to the fun. Mud fight, anyone?
8. Trying to Fold a Map Back the Right Way (and Failing)
Family road trips came with the impossible challenge of refolding a giant paper map. You’d unfold it to help your parents navigate, then spend the next 10 minutes trying to fold it back perfectly. Spoiler alert: you never did.
9. Taking Glamour Shots at the Mall
If you didn’t get Glamour Shots as a kid, did you even grow up in the ’80s or ’90s? These over-the-top photo sessions at the mall were iconic. Feather boas, big hair, and dramatic poses made everyone feel like a celebrity for a day.
10. Trying to Beat Your High Score on a Pocket-Sized LCD Game
Before smartphones and gaming consoles, handheld LCD games like Tiger Electronics were all we had. The graphics were pixelated, the beeping sounds repetitive, but nothing beat the thrill of chasing your high score on Basketball Pro or Mortal Kombat.
Conclusion
Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s wasn’t just about the big trends—it was about the small, quirky moments that defined a generation. While technology has made life easier today, it’s those little struggles and creative solutions that we’ll always remember fondly.
Which of these did you do? What would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments and help us baffle Gen Z even more!