Millennials may have grown up during a time when there was only one time during the day when cartoons aired, or when they had to play outside because computers were not part of every household yet. When technology was introduced, millennials adapted and evolved with it. A desktop computer, Walkmans, and CD-ROMs instead of floppy disks.
When Gen Z came along, the internet was booming. Social networking had been introduced, and everyone was getting online, making profiles, and sending invites to friends. Instead of playing outside, many of them sat at their desks, exchanging energy and gems with friends so they could progress in an online game.
Now that the internet is so much more, technology is far more advanced than a millennial had ever thought it could be in the 90s, everyone seems to be turning towards “old school” stuff.
With AI handling most of our tasks within minutes, there’s a bit of dissociation felt within us. Are we so easily replaced by Artificial Intelligence? Can they take over not only our jobs but also our relationships? Will we be irrelevant in a few years time?
So, as an act of rebellion, we’ve decided to talk about the bygone era when life was so much better. No economy in crisis. Lower grocery prices. Affordable food and housing. Surviving was easy. In fact, people were living, not struggling to survive.
It’s convenient to swipe the screen on our phones. But the buttons were more reliable. At least you knew what you were pressing.
If something was printed, then it was authentic and not likely to be incorrect because of a technical glitch. Maps were definitely not taking us the wrong way and recalibrating because the signal was lost at a pivotal moment. A printed map was reliable, although impossible to fold back once it was open.
Music was better, and less autotune was being used. Photos were in albums, untouched by ridiculous filters that made a person look robotic. Cable had limited choices, so we didn’t spend an hour navigating through a list of movies and TV shows and scoffing at the options.
In a way, decisions were made for us. You either watch what is on TV or turn it off and read a book. A paperback, of course. Ones the smelled sweet and woody. Books that didn’t need to be charged and were edited by a human hand instead of AI, which thinks you need to write more like a robot, of course.
It’s no wonder that at this point in time, when we are oversimulated by technology, world news, and rising prices, the “simple” life beckons to us.
So, what is the point of embracing nostalgia?
It helps us connect to our roots. The “outdated” technology is the foundation of everything that was built right after. Using gadgets of the past isn’t something that makes us feel like cave people; it makes us feel more human.
In a world where humans and their efforts are being threatened to be erased by advanced technology, using buttons on a phone or taking pains to find the perfect shot with your camera makes us feel more connected and grounded to the world.
It makes us feel like we matter, no matter how technology evolves in the future.
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