Technology Then and Now – A Look Back at The 90’s

Believe it or not, there was a time before the iPhone, Facebook and Twitter existed. In fact, there was even a time before YouTube, Instagram and even Pinterest! As hard as it is to remember what it was like 15-20 years ago, each of these technologies and social media networks we use every day were something else in our lives. Since I love the 90’s (as everyone else should) and love to reminisce, I think it’s time to take a trip down memory lane and remember what life and social media was like back then!

Before YouTube…

ha ha ARGHCan you remember what you used to watch for entertainment before YouTube? If you guessed TV programs such as America’s Funniest Home Videos, you were right! This television show from the 90’s had everything that YouTube has, well except for an awesomely geeky host – Bob Saget. Whether it was a funny home video of babies, puppies falling asleep on camera or grandparents falling down, you could always count on this show for a good laugh, very much like you can now count on YouTube for one.

Before Facebook…

el camino highschool reunion (rented Lambo in foreground)Long before Facebook existed, people had to connect and reconnect on a different level. This was generally in person, at reunions or school, or anywhere else in public. In the 90’s, we didn’t have the distractions of constant Facebook updates to look at, we received a phone call if someone wanted to tell us they got engaged and everyone’s lives were far more private than they are today.

Before the iPhone…

payphoneLong before the iPhone was mainstream and even before cellphones were a must have for every age, young and old, people communicated in different ways. Yes, that’s right, people used their house phones and pay phones to make calls. I would have to admit this is among the most challenging technologies to remember life without – mainly because people, including myself, have grown to be so attached to their cellphones that living without one again is not even an option.

Before Instagram…

Disposable Camera SwapI’m going to take a trip down my very own personal memory lane, to the times when I used to be obsessed with taking photographs at school – on field trips, during school lunch and whenever else I could sneak pictures in with my friends. Rather than snapping a picture and uploading it to Instagram for the world to see, I would have to take my film out of my awesome camera (not even digital yet, mind you) and bring it to the local store to get developed. After an hour wait, I would finally get to look back at my pictures and decide whether or not they were worth scanning to put in an online photo album for friends to see. Growing up to see the world of photography be transformed into something so quick and instant has really been among my favorite changes to see, especially with the quality of photography changing dramatically as well. But to think… an hour wait to get pictures developed? Ha!

Before Twitter…

Newspaper sea blueBefore Twitter existed and everyone received their news in 140 character tweets, the world had to wait until journalists published stories in the paper to hear about what was happening in the news. While now most of us jump on Twitter and keep pressing refresh for constant updates on an event, tragedy or disaster, prior to Twitter and social media sites, TV, radio and newspapers were the only three outlets to receive news, which made it difficult to get frequent updates on what was happening in the world.

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