Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
Redditors Guess What Will Feel Nostalgic In 40 Years And Here Are 30 Of The Most Interesting Answers
Being a ’90s kid, I often find myself stumbling upon something on the internet that we as kids used to have or do back in our childhood. Many of us look back at our childhood fondly, with a certain sense of nostalgia that fills us with joy (or dread, depending on how much you’re affected by existential factors).
But we never think of the things that we have now that we may end up being nostalgic about 40 years from now. That is why Reddit user u/tandyman234 has recently asked this very same question on r/AskReddit: in 40 years what will people be nostalgic for? And Reddit delivered.
Bored Panda has collected some of the best answers, which you can find below. While you’re down there, why not comment and vote for the ones you’ve enjoyed the most.
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
Comfortable temperatures.
#3
The Internet.
Hell, I'm nostalgic for it now. Not the final form that the internet has taken over the past decade or so, but those wild west days before youtube, facebook, social media, reddit. Finding weird ass sites, geocities pages, looking up cheat codes for GTA, hanging out on forums, seeing something go truly grassroots viral and not just because it's trending on instagram or something. Those days when no company knew what the hell the internet was or how to market on it, it was just left to the nerds and the kids who were making up the rules as they went along.
I miss when the internet felt like a little adventure rather than a timesink or utilitarian tool to get the day to day done.
While it’s hard to predict the future and to know what things probably feel nostalgic to us, Reddit had no problem coming up with a slew of answers to the question. These varied from funny to interesting to just plain sad.
While some were realistic in their answers, pointing out that things like DVDs, driving manuals, and physical money will probably be something of a blast from the past, others joked that we’ll most likely be nostalgic about the US Postal Service, a hint at the current US postal crisis, and bubble wrap, also pointing at a recent bit of news that bubblewrap will be made in a way that doesn’t pop.
#4
I'm fifty years old, so I can actually be nostalgic for things from 40 years ago. Mostly I miss my grandparents. We take people for granted until they're gone. The people in your life won't always be there.
I'm also nostalgic for a time when it was normal to not be able to contact someone anytime you wanted to. Now if someone calls, texts, or emails you're expected to answer or respond immediately.
What's In Your Head? 4 years ago
To be honest I refuse to live that way, personally. My phone is usually out of sight (and out of mind), and if someone calls or texts when I'm busy, I'll respond or call back when I'm good and ready. This may sound terribly arrogant, but I don't mean it that way. I just refuse to be available 24-7, it doesn't feel natural to me, and I like my peace and quiet.
#5
The night sky.
By that time, Musk, Bezos, and god knows who else, will have hundreds of thousands of satellites in orbit. Our cities will have doubled in size, and urban sprawl will cause further light pollution. Stargazing will be something future generations will only hear stories about...
Wendy Kozeny 4 years ago
Perhaps (That's why I "Liked" the comment). There is new development in street lights that shine down, only, with the express purpose of reducing light pollution. Maybe this might not be our future, after all.
#6
Hardcover books
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates 4 years ago
Don't you dare get rid of the magical passports to other worlds.
Yet others drew people’s attention to the fact that we might end up being nostalgic for things like snow and ice, especially in areas that are already getting little snow, privacy in light of all of the surveillance being done via cameras and tech in general, and comfortable temperatures, a subtle hint at climate change.
The Reddit post went viral not only because it strummed everyone the right way—i.e. the nostalgia way—but also because it managed to get over 73,000 upvotes with a total of 18.4k comments. It was also the recipient of over 185 various Reddit awards.
#8
Being able to say “it must have got lost in the mail” or “I didn’t get your text” as a lie for ignoring someone
What are your thoughts on this? What will you be nostalgic about in 40 years? Let us know in the comment section below!
#10
Clean air
M O'Connell 4 years ago
If we continue on the track we are on now the air will probably be cleaner in 40 years. Does anybody remember acid rain? Smog (outside of dense cities)? The only trucks you see belching smoke are idiots who have disabled pollution controls.
#11
We just spent 5 months with family. Having dinners together, watching TV together, playing games, just being a family. Kids are going to grow up remembering the time they had with their parents and siblings. There will be good memories.
#12
Driving a car yourself
averageperson 4 years ago
Right now the question is "can you drive a stick shift." Soon the question will be "can you drive a car." Shocking, I know.
#13
I have a running joke that I'm from the future and I'm relieved that I'm back in the glory days of 2020.
#14
The United States Postal Service
Curry on... 4 years ago
All of us should buy postage and mail a bunch of letters and postcards to boost the post office's profits (the return of letter writing. )
#16
Drinks full of sugar, food full of salt. Oh and antibiotics that still work.
What's In Your Head? 4 years ago
Yeah, they already ruined Fanta Lemon. The sugar variant doesn't exist anymore (since last year or so), and the no sugar variant is disgusting.
#17
being Rick rolled
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates 4 years ago
Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
#19
Seafood. There won't be anything left in 40 years. I get it there will be some sort of sea life clinging on to eat. My point is nobody will be eating halibut and tuna on the regular because we killed 90% of them
Monika Soffronow 4 years ago
"Spanish fishing boats are landing only a tenth of their normal summer catch of octopus – an unheard-of drop." https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/26/spanish-fishing-boats-land-only-a-tenth-of-normal-catch-of-octopus
#20
Movie DVDs. With everything going digital, I think production houses will soon stop making DVDs and just start streaming the movies in either their respective streaming platforms or sell them to other platforms like Netflix.
Sean Harrison 4 years ago
Physical media will still be around for long-term storage purposes. Companies are still producing blank cassette tapes, VHS/Bets tapes, and floppy discs. You'd be surprised at how many people still use physical media.
#21
I'm already nostalgic for dramatically flipping a phone closed to end a phone call...
Mommyofboth 4 years ago
My 8-year-old says "end the call". I miss hanging up on someone. I would pound that receiver down like they could hear it lol. Now we just angrily touch "end".
#22
Cash money. Besides the occasions when dealing with cash is just a lot more convenient, it's art--all those paper bills and coins are designed. Some are beautiful.
#23
Playing physical games with friends. Going to friends’ houses to play basketball/soccer and a few video games, and then have a sleep over. Socializing to the extend even the youngest here have experienced.
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates 4 years ago
Call me old-fashioned, but I don't think that will ever die.
#24
Payphones. Imagine trying to explain to your grand children, "back in my day if I needed to be picked up from the park, I called Collect on the payphone to my Mom and when the machine asked who was calling you said 'pickmeupat5:30please' so you didn't have to pay for the call".
#25
Flipping through cable aimlessly not really sure what will be on any channel and just going til you hit something decent. The place I'm at now has free cable included and sometimes I'll waste hours just flipping through. It feels just like the early 2000s again and is a crazy throwback feeling to watching TV before everything was on apps and on demand.
Eiden D'Elia 4 years ago
I just flip through it. Sometimes I get something good, sometimes i get weird sh*t like robot Elmo burning to death
#26
Honestly probably malls. I feel like a lot of them are going out of business and getting torn down. Well at least the old mall experience.
JuJu 4 years ago
They went to Germany...we got quite a lot of malls over the last 10 years and I hate it. I prefer to stroll through the city, see the daylight and get a feeling of the weather. Malls never have clocks, you lose track of time, you always have the same temperature und the same light, no matter the weather. And it's crowded and loud.
#28
The sound of a V8
Truth Monster 4 years ago
I totally thought you meant the vegetable juice V-8...and I thought, "that's a weird thing to miss." Lol
#30
So many of the amazing movies made in the 2000's. Lord of the rings, The Matrix, many of the Cristopher Nolan movies. I'm convinced these newer classics will be enjoyed for decades to come
What do you think ?
Ivy Zhang 4 years ago
for me, i'm already nostalgic for shopping outlets. now, they're all being replaced by onlince shopping and malls. i remember when i was a little kid there were little rides along the "streets" and i would always beg my parents
Le Box of Shame 4 years ago
I'd be nostalgic for older architecture before it's replaced with hideous brutalist buildings
Julie Hanford 4 years ago
and here in Houston at least, they are TEARING DOWN anything old for NO GOOD REASON and building more TINY apartments on the land...
Load More Replies...
Ivy Zhang 4 years ago
for me, i'm already nostalgic for shopping outlets. now, they're all being replaced by onlince shopping and malls. i remember when i was a little kid there were little rides along the "streets" and i would always beg my parents
Le Box of Shame 4 years ago
I'd be nostalgic for older architecture before it's replaced with hideous brutalist buildings
Julie Hanford 4 years ago
and here in Houston at least, they are TEARING DOWN anything old for NO GOOD REASON and building more TINY apartments on the land...
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
