9 Things We All Did in the ’90s That Would Shock Gen Z Today
Growing up in the ’90s meant navigating a world that looked and felt completely different from today. Some of the things we did back then seem almost unthinkable now, especially to younger generations.
Let’s walk down memory lane and look at nine everyday habits from the ’90s that might shock Gen Z.
Using dial-up internet with endless waiting
That screechy, beeping sound when you tried to get online is unforgettable. Dial-up internet was slow and used your phone line, so if anyone called, your connection dropped instantly.
Loading a single webpage could take several minutes. Streaming or downloading anything required a lot of patience.
You couldn’t talk on the phone and be online at the same time. If your connection dropped, you had to start over.
Rewinding VHS tapes before returning them
Renting movies on VHS tapes was a regular part of life. The unwritten rule was to rewind the tape before bringing it back.
If you forgot, the next person had to rewind it before watching. Some people even had special rewinders to speed up the process.
It was a tiny act of courtesy that made the rental experience smoother for everyone.
Calling friends on landline phones without caller ID
Calling your friends meant picking up a landline and dialing without anyone knowing who was calling. Most phones didn’t have caller ID, so you could stay anonymous.
If you wanted to hide your number, you could use a code like *67 before dialing. Prank calls and surprises were just part of the fun.
Making mixtapes from cassette tapes
Making a mixtape was a true labor of love. You’d sit by your cassette player, recording songs from the radio or another tape one by one.
Timing had to be just right, or you’d miss the start of a song or catch a DJ talking over the intro. Despite the imperfections, mixtapes felt personal and meaningful.
Renting movies at Blockbuster Video
Friday nights often meant a trip to Blockbuster. You’d wander the aisles, hoping your top movie pick was still available.
Sometimes, all you found was the movie’s cover because someone else had beaten you to it. The hunt for the perfect movie was part of the fun.
Chatting with the staff and getting recommendations made the experience even better. After watching, you’d return your movie and get ready for your next visit.
Waiting days for film photos to develop
Taking pictures wasn’t instant gratification. You’d drop off your film at a store and wait days or even weeks to see your photos.
There was always a sense of excitement and mystery—you never knew if your shots turned out until you picked them up.
Every photo mattered because film was limited and developing cost money. Flipping through printed photos in albums or boxes made memories feel more tangible.
Using floppy disks to save files
Saving your work meant using floppy disks—small, fragile plastic squares that held just a tiny amount of data. You had to be careful, because if the disk got damaged, your files could be lost for good.
Sharing files with friends or classmates often meant handing over a floppy disk. It was a slow and unreliable process, but that was just how things worked.
Watching TV shows according to the TV guide schedule
Catching your favorite show meant checking the TV Guide and planning your night around the schedule. If you missed an episode, you waited for a rerun or tried to record it on a VCR.
There was no binge-watching or skipping commercials. Watching TV was an event, something you shared with family or friends at a set time.
Playing with Tamagotchis and feeding virtual pets
Remember the thrill of carrying a Tamagotchi everywhere as a kid in the ’90s?
These tiny, egg-shaped gadgets needed your constant attention.
You fed, cleaned, and played with your pixelated pet to keep it alive and happy.
Watching your digital creature grow or get upset if you forgot to feed it was surprisingly emotional.
Many kids spent hours making sure their virtual pets didn’t “die.”
Now, with smartphones and advanced digital pets, Gen Z kids might find these old-school devices a bit puzzling.
A beeping toy asking for food or attention every few minutes can seem annoying or outdated to someone used to modern tech.
Back then, though, it really felt like you had a little life depending on you.
That kind of digital bonding was something new for a whole generation.
