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Dial-up internet, playing outside, and no social media... It may sound like a nightmare to today's kids. But for many of those who grew up in the 90s, life was a carefree dream.
We rented our VHS tape movies from Blockbusters, sent handwritten letters to penpals, got lost while using paper maps, and kept some change in our pockets in case we needed to call home. It was a time of creativity, freedom and exploration for kids. A time of baggy clothes for adults. We listened to grunge and hip hop. A handful of supermodels ruled the runway. And partied like the world was literally about to end in 1999.
That decade may (sadly) be long gone but thankfully, the memories are being kept alive. Online spaces like 90s Kids and 90s Design are dedicated to slowing things down in today's fast-paced digital era. The pages feature posts and memes that instantly transport you right back in time. Bored Panda has put together a compilation of the best of them, and many may have you thinking, "Today's kids will never know..."
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#2
Thought It Would Be Different
It is said that you never miss a good thing until it's gone. Ain't that the truth. Back then, we didn't quite grasp how amazing we had it. And the kids of today. Well, they will never know. Life in the 90s seemed slower, kinder, and more magical.
If we wanted to watch a movie, we either had to go to the cinema or hire a VHS tape at the local Blockbusters. We spent a lot more time outdoors, riding bikes, playing under the sprinklers, exploring the neighborhood or roller skating.
#4
Best Gift I Got As A Child 🖍️
#5
Super Soaker Please
nut nibbler 45 minutes ago
It bad enough that there are some channels I watch and every advert seems to be for prebooking a funeral and getting life insurance.....wouldn't be surprised if they started adverts for Dignitas. I want to watch a show that makes me feel better and not want me to stick my head in a gas oven because of adverts.
#6
💻🖥️💽 😅
Justin Case 9 hours ago
I still have some of these disks. That's because I have two of the original 1984 Apple Macintosh computers with software.
#7
🚴🚵♂️🚲…
#8
Its Possible Some Of Us Done All These 😂
#9
So What Was In Yours …
#10
Ah, The 90’s Toothpaste
#11
When There Actually Were Snow Days
#13
😂😅👕🥼…
#14
Who Remembers Space Cabet?
#15
Little Mermaid Book
#16
Gina Ekiss, Designer Of The Solo Jazz Cup (Circa 1990)
#17
🍿🛼🎳🎶🎥
#18
We Grew Up In The Wood Grain Era!!!
#19
The Early Computer Windows Era! I Can Hear The Sound In My Head From The Picture LOL
#21
We Know What We Saw Growing Up!
OneHappyPuppy 4 hours ago
Monopoly guy never had a monocle, the Mandela effect came to be because of Mr. Peanut - I figured it out years ago. But Fruit of the Loom on the other hand... It's the reason I know what a cornucopia is dammit!
#22
The Pink Medicine
Partypants 6 hours ago
I remember a horrendous ear infection and having banana flavor penicillin, it was kind of good actually!
#23
Craving The Pizza Hut Buffet On These Cold Winter Days
#24
We All Played With This Ball At The Stores And Definitely Never Took It Home LOL
Elladine DesIsles 8 hours ago
There was deifinitely a ball just like this in my home during the 90s. However, I have absolutely no idea how it got there.
#26
I’ve Always Loved These Glass Block Dividers
Elladine DesIsles 8 hours ago
I have always loathed those glass block dividers. And pretty much anything made of glass blocks. I used to have two old blocks that I used as spacers behind my sofa to make sure it never got pushed up against the baseboard heaters, and they still irked me there, completely out of sight.
#27
The First Christmas Of The Best Decade. I Miss When Shopping Looked Like This
Partypants 6 hours ago
I miss the big fat Christmas Sears catalogue and circling all the things I needed..like moon shoes!
#28
Disney Store In The 90’s Was The Best
StrangeOne 3 hours ago
Last time I went into The Disney Store all they had was the same common stuff you could find at Walmart or any other toy store, and the store was stark, plain white. It looked like a temporary shop that was about to close. No soul whatsoever. I miss the original Disney Store.
#29
Best Part Of Class Was When The TV Rolled Out
Elladine DesIsles 8 hours ago
And then the frustration when the bell rang before the movie ended, on the last day of school before the holidays. I was an adult before I finally saw Willow all the way through.
#30
The McDonald's Floors
#31
Perfectly Preserved Taco Bell Receipt From 1999 Found In Library Book
#32
Definitely Loved The Teal Era We Grew Up In!
Elladine DesIsles 8 hours ago
I'm still in my teal-turquoise-aqua era. It's my favourite, and I no longer care what anyone else thinks.
#34
Imagine That 😂
Colleen Glim 8 hours ago
I’m still waking up with a toddler, an infant, and no money. No thank you
#35
Malls Becoming The Thing Of The Past
#36
Erasers That Never Erased Anything
#37
Mall Of America, 1992
Glen Ellyn 5 hours ago
The whole place is ridiculous nowadays. Consumerism at its finest. So much stuff, most of which you can get just about anywhere else. But hey, it's great to have an indoor mall during Minnesota winters.
#39
Love The Color And The Teal Color As Well That Took Over The 90’s LOL
#40
Two-Tone Icy Bouncy Balls
#41
LOL Right! Didn’t Last Long
#42
Boston Electric Pencil Sharpener Model 18
#43
I Need That Chair To Think
#44
Definitely Had The Same Kitchen Table Growing Up For Sure!
#46
The Subtle, Understated Tones Of A 90s Windbreaker
#47
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia '99
#49
We Didn't Know What We Had… 1999
#50
We Feel It Everyday Man Dang! LOL
#51
It Was A Feast
#55
Anyone Remember This Shampoo?
Elladine DesIsles 8 hours ago
The only thing that worked on my daughter's extremely fine, tangly hair. She called it "fooshee" shampoo.
#56
I Actually Had A Pair Back Then LOL ! What About You Guys?
#57
Valentine's Day Party In Elementary School
#60
Sears In Mountain View, California🌴🌴circa 1990
#62
The Limelight (NYC) - 1990s Club In A Gothic Revival-Style Church Built In 1844
#63
This Book Is A Glorious Example Of Global Village Coffeehouse Design
#64
A Couple People Told My That Our Office Furniture Looks Like Their Grandmothers' Furniture From The 90s
#65
Island Home Magazine 🏝️ August, 1993
#66
Halloween Was So Good Back In The Day 🥺
#68
A Burger King In Manhattan With Free Internet Access (1998)
#71
'windows On The World' Restaurant, On The 107th Floor Of The North Tower Of The Destroyed World Trade Center
Beak Hookage 1 hour ago
There was a famous picture taken of a man falling to his demise that day, possibly having jumped (which was a big deal to the family who thought it might be their son because they were observant Catholics). It's thought to have been an employee of this restaurant.
#72
Somebody Tossed This To The Curb
#78
This Restaurant In The Westin Bonaventure Hotel In La
#82
Inspirational 90s Iconography
Roman Arendt 4 hours ago
Don't tell US Americans that this clearly was inspired by Socialist Realism.
#83
Is There A Name For This "Black-Purple" Design That Was Common For TV Shows Or Concert Stages?
#85
From The Movie Dinosaurs!
#86
Heavyweights
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What do you think ?
SM 9 hours ago (edited)
You know you are getting old when they post a "nostalgia thread" that has things in school that were in the future when you were in school.
Glen Ellyn 5 hours ago
Using paper maps to get around?? I still use them, although I don't travel as much as I used to.
SM 9 hours ago (edited)
You know you are getting old when they post a "nostalgia thread" that has things in school that were in the future when you were in school.
Glen Ellyn 5 hours ago
Using paper maps to get around?? I still use them, although I don't travel as much as I used to.
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