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Our childhood never ends. Yes, we get older but the core memories from that time, surrounding everything from the people we hung out with to the places we visited continue to live in our head rent-free, occasionally reminding us about themselves when we least expect them to.

However, not all of them are equally vivid, and some might need a bit more stimuli to come back. And the internet is excellent for this task. There are entire communities where people are actively reminding one another about the good old days. (We've already covered some, like the one dedicated to '80s & '90s memes.)

The Facebook group '2000s Y2K Childhood' is one of them. It currently unites 74,600 members, and whether you grew up during that era too or are just interested in learning more about it, their posts perfectly illustrate it. Here are some of the most popular ones.

More info: Facebook

Aside from the few fearmongers threatening the end of the world, the dawn of the new millennium felt, at the time, like entering the future.

Humans marveled at how far technology had advanced in the 20th century. Just under half of all American homes had the internet and were able to Ask Jeeves for the location of the nearest RadioShack and create bad AOL screennames.

The mobile phone was becoming less of a brick, and you could even play 'Snake' on one.

#4

These Speakers

These Speakers

Nostalgia Video Report

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SynthaCybe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remeber these always switched on with a satisfying whoomph! That and the urge to put your finger in the hole.... (get out of the gutter pandas!)

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There weren't any social media apps to scroll through immediately after opening your eyes in the morning (and just before closing them at night).

Even Friendster, the often-mocked social network, didn't exist until 2002, and Facebook wouldn’t appear until two years later.

So how was everyone spending their time?

#6

Nobody Knows

Nobody Knows

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Austin A.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

waiting on a 4h download only to find out it's dubbed in Hindi with subtitles in Chinese

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#9

Petition To Bring This Mcdonalds Back

Petition To Bring This Mcdonalds Back

Stephanie Nicole Jones Report

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Cara G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously though, what happened to McDonald's? I go in there every day to pick up people's Uber orders and it's practically a graveyard of the majestic palace of fun it was in the days of yore. Empty, touch screen kiosks for placing your order, and then a bag is dumped on the counter when it's ready. One manager in the front and a bunch of line cooks in the back. It is extremely sad.

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As Allen Kim and Breeanna Hare pointed out for CNN, they waited patiently for the news.

If you weren't reading the newspaper or sitting in front of the TV, you could go hours without knowing the latest crazy thing the president said.

In 2000, daily weekday circulation for newspapers in the US was estimated at nearly 56 million.

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#10

Mentally I’m Here

Mentally I’m Here

Nostalgia Video Report

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A Wild Bean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Took me a second to realize that this isn't literally a picture from my old school... wow some things are just universal, huh?

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#11

Grandparent's Secret Handshake

Grandparent's Secret Handshake

Nostalgia Video Report

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Angrywolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandfather made a game of it, 5 guilders in his closed fist and I had to get his fingers open, If I succeeded, the money was mine, Loved the game.

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#13

The Most Iconic Four-Way Call To Ever Exist, Prove Me Wrong

The Most Iconic Four-Way Call To Ever Exist, Prove Me Wrong

Tracey Earlam Cook Report

In order to document your life, you had to carry around an extra device: an actual camera; the concept of the cameraphone was still a few years away from becoming mainstream.

And Netflix was just getting started: it could recommend movies, give you three DVDs at a time, and let you keep them for as long as you wanted. “The dream 20 years from now,” CEO Reed Hastings said in 2002, “is to have a global entertainment distribution company that provides a unique channel for film producers and studios.”

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#14

Damn Not Even The Fast Charger

Damn Not Even The Fast Charger

Leon McJunkins Report

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okpkpkp
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some guy at my HS entered a contest where you had to be 18 so he put his parent's names and they won a houseboat. They sold the boat and bought their son a brand new 1969 PURPLE Dodge Charger. I'd see him crossing the bridge to school revving his potent engine.

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#15

I Remember Coming Home From School Every Evening To Watch The Best Lineup

I Remember Coming Home From School Every Evening To Watch The Best Lineup

Anonymous participant Report

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OWEN CASH
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll take Saturday morning Bugs Bunny / Roadrunner cartoons over these anytime.

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#16

I Had One Of These I Was Sad When The Marker Dried Out Though

I Had One Of These I Was Sad When The Marker Dried Out Though

Abi Marmolejo Report

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tor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Loved these. Had a going away party in 8th grade and all my friends signed one. So cute

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#17

Do They Think Kids Don’t Use Paper ?

Do They Think Kids Don’t Use Paper ?

Masøn Vautøur Report

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Hotdogking
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? Do they now sing 🎵We just got an email, we just got an email, we just got an email, I wonder who it's from?🎵. Because that will hurt me on a personal level

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But why do we feel nostalgic for these things? Krystine Batcho, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at LeMoyne College and a licensed psychologist, thinks that this emotional experience allows us to get a better understanding of our own selves.

"It helps to unite our sense of who we are, our self, our identity over time," Batcho said. "Because over time, we change constantly, we change in incredible ways. We're not anywhere near the same as we were when we were three years old, for example. Nostalgia, by motivating us to remember the past in our own life, helps to unite us to that authentic self and remind us of who we have been and then compare that to who we feel we are today."

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This also gives us a sense of who we want to become in the future.

#18

Out Rockin My Jeans From 2004 Today!

Out Rockin My Jeans From 2004 Today!

Mark OM Report

#19

Having Cell Phones In 2000s

Having Cell Phones In 2000s

Silvia Marie Report

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Higgleton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Flexing your Nokia 3310 on those with a 3210 because it had snake 2 and you could go through the walls

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#20

Ooooh Yikes

Ooooh Yikes

Bailey Lalonde Report

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sky
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i have a ds and i had this game but i dont know where it went lol

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"The other way that nostalgia serves an essential psychological function is that it is a highly social emotion. It connects us to other people," Batcho added. "It does that [in] so many beautiful ways. In the beginning, when we're very young, it's part of what bonds us to the most important people in our life, our parents, our siblings, our friends. As we go through life, it can broaden out and extend to a wider sphere of the people we interact with. It's a social connectedness phenomenon and nostalgia is in that sense a very healthy pro-social emotion."

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And online communities such as '2000s Y2K Childhood' only back up these words.

#22

Halloween In The Early 2000s

Halloween In The Early 2000s

Jazmin Sutton Report

#23

Yasss

Yasss

Jazmin Sutton Report

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OWEN CASH
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So glad Britney seems to be doing well now after years of being unjustly persecuted by the media.

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#24

The Man Who Had A Piercing On His Thing And Got Electrocuted

The Man Who Had A Piercing On His Thing And Got Electrocuted

Silvia Marie Report

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Porribix
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sat on the water filter of a hot tub, formed a seal around his a**s and sucked his intestines out.

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#25

I Love Shrek Lol

I Love Shrek Lol

Jazmin Sutton Report

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Gul Dukat
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I've heard there was a secret chord that David played, and it pleased the Lord..." One of the saddest moments in CGI history

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#26

Who Remembers These Growing Up In The 2000’s

Who Remembers These Growing Up In The 2000’s

Derek Brown Report

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A Wild Bean
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unpopular opinion, I never liked these because they fit really weird and got stuck in my hair (Edit: I know they're bracelets. I have no idea how they ended up in my hair)

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#27

One Fine Day A Woof And A Purr A Baby Was Born And It Caused A Little Stir

One Fine Day A Woof And A Purr A Baby Was Born And It Caused A Little Stir

Raymond Black Report

#28

I Use To Love This Game!

I Use To Love This Game!

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#29

Yea To Take Her To The Mall To Get Some Food And Leave

Yea To Take Her To The Mall To Get Some Food And Leave

Nostalgia Video Report

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Cara G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't until you said it but this is the most apt description of something I've ever heard and I'm SCREAMING 😂😂😂

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Kris “ADHD_Carrier” Dudoich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does the car have the same pattern that all those styrofoam coffee cups back then did?

majandess
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister (and her dog) models for American Doxie Clothing Co, and they have a jazz dachshund shirt.

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#30

Good Ol’ Triangle Club. Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Good Ol’ Triangle Club. Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Nostalgia Video Report

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#32

The 2011 Mcdonald’s Happy Meals Were The Real Thing!

The 2011 Mcdonald’s Happy Meals Were The Real Thing!

Rebecca Ayers Report

#34

Miss Those Days

Miss Those Days

Jami Janai Report

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starsailor (they/he)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i actually have a ds and 3ds! i bought the ds during the pandemic and the 3ds like a year ago. i haven't touched the ds since 2021, but i love my 3ds! i also have a gameboy color and gameboy advance!

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#37

Def Nostalgia As An Older Teen But Yes

Def Nostalgia As An Older Teen But Yes

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Peppy Piplup
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Couldn't relate to most of this article because it was all early 2000s when I was a toddler but THIS. THIS is THE nostalgic image. I remember having Squinkies, slap bands, silly bands, a leopard Pillow Pet, Temple Run, Littlest Pet Shop, a Wii, 3DS, Loom bands and Lego Friends. All this image is missing is Zhu Zhu Pets

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#41

Miss This Show

Miss This Show

Jazmin Sutton Report

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Rapunzel With The Loced Hair
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is what gave me an obsession with reality dating shows. It's trash TV but I can't look away (please send help)

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#42

If U Had One Of These In The Late 90s And Early 00s U Were A Cool Kid

If U Had One Of These In The Late 90s And Early 00s U Were A Cool Kid

KP Evans Report

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Stary_cat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kind on but off topic I hate when kids at school walk around with boom box’s and speakers blaring drake or some other rapper.

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#44

A New Aged Furby. I Had A Fijit Friend And I Was Convinced That It Was Possessed Because It Would Turn On By Itself In The Middle Of The Night

A New Aged Furby. I Had A Fijit Friend And I Was Convinced That It Was Possessed Because It Would Turn On By Itself In The Middle Of The Night

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