The Most Dated Experiences Of 2000s Teens

Before streaming, people went to Blockbuster Video for fun. Blockbuster survived the 2000s, closing in 2011. They did not change prices when Netflix and Redbox (which started in 2002) appeared. Walking aisles, buying candy, and visiting a Blockbuster felt good, but it made no sense financially or for convenience. Still, hanging out with friends at a video store is a memory for 2000s teens.

Tapes needed rewinding after viewing. Delays, like the internet, were bigger issues. Opening your laptop meant early dial-up internet. This included unpleasant sounds for fifteen to thirty seconds during connection. Once online, you waited for pages and videos to load.

DiscMan use meant you couldn't move much because the CD could skip. Dial-up internet used up the phone line. You had to disconnect if someone needed the landline or was waiting for a call. You could ignore the internet until the call returned.

Making mixtapes with illegally obtained songs was unique. Creating a mix to play on the way to school felt cool; it was the 2000s version of getting the AUX cord. You could also give a mixtape to a crush, hoping they would listen to the love songs.

People talked on nights and weekends because it was free. Most did not text as much now because limits existed. You could not send short 'K' or 'LOL' replies with limited plan minutes. Calls were also cut short. The biggest difference was data: tapping 'Mobile Web' meant immediate panic to close it and avoid charges.

Downloads were sloppy. Sometimes you downloaded the wrong song or a poor quality version. Regardless, the download was 100% free. Hundreds of thousands of songs were stored on your computer for free. Pirating early on was fun, even if the 2000s music industry disagreed.

Music videos appeared on shows like TRL, 106 & Park, and Popup Video. These videos appeared in countdowns on shows everyone watched. Reality television and other content supplemented the music videos.Music videos appeared on shows like TRL, 106 & Park, and Popup Video. These videos appeared in countdowns on shows everyone watched. Reality television and other content supplemented the music videos like Real World and Road Rules.Music videos and TV shows based on those videos formed a staple of teenage life, even though some hit shows faded.

Puka shell necklaces covered the scene for a decade. Tattoo chokers got a nod, but puka shell necklaces remained revolting.

AOL Instant Messenger handled the heavy texting then. Folks got that detached experience talking constantly, though it stays impersonal. Still, it built friendships over summer break, gossip, and plans. The away message let users be clever, almost practicing for Twitter.

Blackberries lacked the expected lifespan, yet they were not a huge flop. T-Mobile Sidekicks once seemed the coolest device globally for teens, but that ended. Microsoft tried with the Zune and HD DVDs, but nothing stuck; now we have iPods and Blu-Rays.

People knew about Pokémon. Its popularity was undeniable, even if you did not watch or play. Middle schoolers in the early 2000s likely felt this most. Pokémon became so popular that a dead president's face on paper held less value than a shiny Charizard picture.

The MySpace Top 8 Era changed friendships. Those slots listed best friends, letting mid-level friendships suffer. If you knew someone well but they weren't a main crew member, they might feel slighted seeing you not list them as a favorite. This feature caused stress during those petty teenage friendships.

Facebook demanded a .edu email because it targeted college students, unlike MySpace which welcomed everyone. That exclusivity created a mystery about Facebook until it opened up, revealing it was essentially MySpace without the surveys or HTML customization.