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Technology advances and improves faster than we can adapt to the changes. Progress has always left some people in the dust, but the tempo has increased with the dawn of the Digital Age. That means that different generations are finding less and less in common with each other than before.
If you thought that the differences between millennials (aka Generation Y) and members of Gen Z were minor, think again. Nowhere are those generation differences more obvious than when members of the older generation show kids the tech that they used when they were small, only to be met with utter disbelief.
Bored Panda has collected some of the best examples when kids today couldn’t understand the technology the millennial generation grew up with. And, boy, do we feel old looking at these childhood memories! If you’d like to feel ancient and get a burst of nostalgia for the good old days, scroll down. Remember to upvote your faves or the ones that gave you the most 90s nostalgia and share this list with your friends (especially those whose birthdays are soon approaching).
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#1
This is a diskette, aka a floppy disc.
It stores information.
#2
#3
This is a cassette tape.
You can store music on it.
It was first developed in 1963, not the American Civil War which was fought between 1861 and 1865.
tuzdayschild 4 years ago
My dearest Emily, Gettysburgs was hell. I would never have survived without your kind and generous mixtape.
Just to make sure that everyone’s more or less on the same page, Gen Y (millennials) refers to people born in the early 1980s and mid-1990s. In short, it’s safe to say that millennials were born sometime between 1981 and 1996, though different researchers use different definitions.
Meanwhile, members of Gen Z are considered to be those born from 1997 until the early 2010s and who grew up with digital technology and are comfortable using both the internet and social media.
#4
This is a fascinating device from a bygone era that lets you manually roll down the car window.
It takes some getting used to.
You have to put your hand on the handle.
And then turn the handle to open the window.
The best part is, if you turn it the other way, the window closes.
Much wow. Such mystery.
#5
chi-wei shen 4 years ago
Worst thing of all: You had to pay in order to find out how good or bad they were.
#6
chi-wei shen 4 years ago
Young people also do not know that calling someone and asking 'where are you' is as young as mobile phones.
Aside from tech and upbringing, what are the ways that the two generations differ? According to Amber Feitsma on Compan Young, Generation Z is far more pragmatic than Gen Y because of higher economic instability. Gen Z prioritizes security and stability (but, ironically, prefers experiences over material possessions which sounds counterintuitive).
And while the new generation has grown up surrounded by digital technology, it still values face-to-face interaction and tech that makes communication easy, simple, and convenient.
#9
Calls, text messages, and mobile internet all used to cost more money than today because cellphones were considered a luxury item, while service providers incurred greater costs than nowadays.
Gen Z also blurs the lines between different devices, work, and leisure: editing documents on laptops at work, only to change a few things on the bus home (or add a flourish or two using their smart fridge while getting a midnight snack). To sum up, it’s a generation that tries to synthesize contradicting and contrasting ideas into a logical whole.
Do you know what I’m looking forward to? Seeing how Generation Z will compare to Generation Alpha—those born from the early 2010s (and those who’ll join us on Planet Earth from the mid-2020s). Imagine the articles showing Gen A’s reactions to Gen Z’s tech. I can’t wait.
#12
chi-wei shen 4 years ago
...and we were happy for having these three devices. Not everyone had them.
#13
Bob Beltcher 4 years ago
When I over out my parents made sure I got a phone plan with Verizon so all our calls and text would be free. That ended when I got a girlfriend and switched to T-Mobile so all our calls and text would be free lol.
#15
Cellphones could store very limited amounts of data.
While it seems funny that your phone couldn't make any more space for extra messages, consider how quickly photos and videos fill up your brand new smartphone.
chi-wei shen 4 years ago
You have to keep in mind that this phone only could store tiny text messages.
#18
This is a VHS tape.
You can store movies and video recordings on it.
#21
This is a public payphone.
You used it to call people.
European other 4 years ago (edited)
Although payphones are out it's not been that long since they were everywhere
#24
This is an iPod.
It plays music.
The very first iPod came out in 2001, not 1955.
The iPod pictured appears to be an iPod Nano, the first of which were released in 2006.
#25
I still don't know how to burn CDs and I'm not a member of Gen Z.
On a theoretical level, it's clear that you copy information that's on your PC onto a disc. On a practical level, I end up messing up the disc and accidentally deleting the data I meant to copy over from the computer.
#26
This is a stereo, aka a boombox.
You use it to play music and be popular.
Marky Mark 4 years ago
My siblings and I still call them Ghetto Blasters as if we were stuck in the late 70's.
#27
#28
Hendra Lim 4 years ago
me, wakes up at 5 am to download some songs, because the internet provider is suck at normal times, and only got moderate speed at 2 to 6 am
#29
This is a beeper, also known as a pager.
It can be used to transmit short messages or, in some cases, voice recordings.
Rissie 4 years ago
You know what's crazy? Hospitals still using these because they are so easy to use. They notify you clearly, give you a quick overview of the urgency and let you decide to call back immediately or attend to what you're doing at that point first. Leaving the decision making with the actual person while not having to set a gazilion options only to forget to turn the sound on when you were needed to save someone's life.
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What do you think ?
Phyllicia Goh 4 years ago (edited)
Born in the 80s here. I always say how glad I am to be able to experience and witness the evolution of technology. I got to grow and learn along the way. It's been exciting and rewarding!
Rissie 4 years ago
I love how my kids feel having an iPad to enjoy and learn about things is a normal part of their lives. I love new tech and what it enables us to do in communication and collaboration :) And it's a privilege to see this happen in your own lifetime!
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V-V 4 years ago
I am a Gen Z and I knew 99% of these but there's honestly no reason for us to know some of these things because we were too young to use them
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago
These things were popular not that long ago. It just shows how quickly things change.
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Magda_lena 4 years ago (edited)
Don't get me wrong but I don't like those "Kids these days don't know" or "Only millenials will know" like seriously I get that these throwbacks to past give you nostalgic feelings and everything but just because I'm part of gen Z doesn't mean I have no idea what these things are. I saw and used more than half of these things on my own.
Mark CM 4 years ago
The "benifits" of living in a backward country, I guess.
Load More Replies... Phyllicia Goh 4 years ago (edited)
Born in the 80s here. I always say how glad I am to be able to experience and witness the evolution of technology. I got to grow and learn along the way. It's been exciting and rewarding!
Rissie 4 years ago
I love how my kids feel having an iPad to enjoy and learn about things is a normal part of their lives. I love new tech and what it enables us to do in communication and collaboration :) And it's a privilege to see this happen in your own lifetime!
Load More Replies... V-V 4 years ago
I am a Gen Z and I knew 99% of these but there's honestly no reason for us to know some of these things because we were too young to use them
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago
These things were popular not that long ago. It just shows how quickly things change.
Load More Replies... Magda_lena 4 years ago (edited)
Don't get me wrong but I don't like those "Kids these days don't know" or "Only millenials will know" like seriously I get that these throwbacks to past give you nostalgic feelings and everything but just because I'm part of gen Z doesn't mean I have no idea what these things are. I saw and used more than half of these things on my own.
Mark CM 4 years ago
The "benifits" of living in a backward country, I guess.
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