Summary

The article reflects on the pervasive nostalgia for the 1990s, attributing it to a yearning for simpler digital interactions, deeper personal connections, and more tangible expressions of care, as well as a desire for genuine experiences outside the realm of digital convenience.

Abstract

The author of the article posits that the current surge in 90s nostalgia is linked to four key factors: the desire to escape the relentless pressure of constant digital communication, the appreciation for the effort and personal touch in activities like creating mixtapes, the longing for authentic connections in a world saturated with curated online personas, and the remembrance of communal experiences such as going to video stores or movie theaters. The piece suggests that while modern conveniences like streaming services and social media have their advantages, they often lead to a sense of isolation and a loss of the serendipity and depth found in pre-digital interactions.

Opinions

The author believes that the 90s represented a time when people could disconnect without causing concern, unlike today's expectation of immediate responses.
There is a sentiment that the effort put into personal gestures, like making mixtapes, is missing in the digital age, where convenience trumps thoughtfulness.
The article expresses a view that social media has replaced genuine surprise and discovery in personal updates with a constant stream of curated life highlights.
It is suggested that the convenience of modern technology, while beneficial, has led to a decline in shared physical experiences, contributing to a sense of isolation.
The author implies a preference for the communal aspects of past entertainment experiences, despite not wanting to return to the inconveniences associated with them.

Why We All Miss The 90s

4 Reasons nostalgia for the 90s is at an all-time high

90s birthday parties at the arcade were lit, AI generated by the author

It seems like 90s nostalgia is everywhere recently. Reboots of Jurassic Park and the Lion King, new Zelda and Mario video games, even Seinfeld and Friends episodes seem to be on repeat in a lot of households. But what is it about the 90s that has us longing for those golden years?

1. Constant Digital Burnout

Remember when you’d get home and find a new message on your answering machine? You’d play them back and say to yourself, “I’ll call them back tomorrow.” There was generally an agreed-upon window of 1–3 days to respond.

Today, people seem to have a meltdown if you don’t respond to a text within a couple of hours. We have gotten so attuned to having constant access to everyone.

It’s not just texting either. Social Media, Email, Slack, WhatsApp, Facetime… there are so many more ways to get ahold of someone these days. And it’s not even necessarily your close friends. Your friend’s mom, that one nice old man you bowled against that one time 10 years ago, even random strangers, all have access and can reach out at any time.

The days before Facebook, AI generated by the author

If you need a personal day or two to unplug it’s much harder. There is a constant pressure to be prompt so you don’t appear rude. And if you don’t use your phone for a few days grandmas everywhere will launch an unofficial search party to make sure you haven’t befallen a terrible accident.

2. Pouring Care into things

One of my favorite things back in the day was making my friends (and secret crushes 🫢) cassette mix tapes. Taking the time to cultivate a good vibe, writing the track names and even sketching a little drawing.

These days I’ll create a Spotify playlist and mass share it on a group chat. Sure it’s convenient and doesn’t take as much care or time… but honestly that’s what I miss the most.

Some things are deserving of thought and effort.

Mixtapes were the artistic medium of the 90s, AI generated by the author

This is just one example but it carries over into so many areas of life. Sending a text instead of a nice “thank you” letter, ordering Uber Eats instead of taking the time to cook for your family, buying something on Amazon that will arrive in 24 hours rather than going out and taking the time to find the perfect gift.

While I love convenience and am certainly guilty of taking the easy route at times, inconvenience seemed to force you to put effort into the things you really cared about.

3. Genuine Connection

Sometimes I run into old friends I haven’t seen in a long time. What’s weird though is I still kind of know what’s been going on with them the last few years. When I scroll through Instagram I’ll catch their major life updates like getting married, having kids, getting a new job…

I miss the days of asking what’s new and having it genuinely be a surprise 😂 It seems like we are all so connected these days. People post daily about what memes they find funny, where they are traveling, even what food they are eating. We all know so much about each other yet our genuine interactions have plummeted.

Living life on your phone, AI generated by the author

Everything is curated. Everyone is presenting their own brand to the world.

Shitty days are hidden, dream vacations are highlighted, Are we meant to know so much about everyone? Usually these insights came from spending genuine time with one another, asking questions, and discovering the quirks and preferences of those we interact with on a daily basis.

4. Getting Out Into The World

Remember the days when your family would want to watch a movie on a Sunday night? Your family would all get in the car and drive to the video store. The long rows of movie covers, the negotiations between family members of what everyone was in the mood for…

Other nights you’d go to the local movie theater and splurge on a $3 bag of popcorn. The theater would be packed and everyone would sit in uncomfortable chairs to catch the latest blockbuster.

Now everything is available to us from the comfort of our homes.

Again, it’s a trade-off. We have a much bigger and better selection of things to watch now.

You don’t have to worry about a scratched DVD that skips and gives you an error halfway through the movie. You don’t have to sit and wait for a VHS tape to rewind before watching it.

You don’t have to set an alarm and make sure you catch your show because it's only airing at that one specific time a week.

But again, convenience tends to isolate us. We don’t go out to a movie, we stay in.

We don’t go out and play games with our friends, we play video games together online.

Kids don’t go peruse the aisles of a toy store, they meticulously analyze reviews and watch unboxing videos online.

90s kids biking around the neighborhood, AI generated by the author

Convenience prevents us from getting out and about in the world. Again, we tend to romanticize the past. Would I prefer to go back to the old system of renting a movie? No. But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss the whole experience at times.

Based on the recent wave of 90s nostalgia. It seems a lot of other people are in the same boat.

Startup Lab

Want to stay up to date on Startup Lab articles? Please consider Subscribing for updates here Following us here Or using our referral link to sign up for Medium here