Life in the ’90s wasn’t easier, it was just less annoying. You weren’t being tracked everywhere, monitored in every waking moment by your screen, or required to respond instantly to 47 WhatsApps. Today, we are drowning in digital noise, subscriptions we forgot we had, and the fear of accidentally AirDropping a selfie to a stranger. These are mere daily headaches we didn’t have 30 years ago— and honestly, we want a full refund on modern life.
Being “Available” 24/7 Is Just Expected
Remember when you could step out of your home and simply not respond? Now, if you don’t answer within 30 minutes, you are suspected of being kidnapped. Whether it is work, WhatsApp, or even your mum inquiring if you have eaten, silence breeds suspicion. Endless pings, pressure, and guilt— it is a digital leash we all wear now.
Phone Battery Anxiety
In those days, a phone was stuck against a wall. Now? When that battery symbol goes red, your entire life unravels. All of a sudden, you’re begging strangers for a charger as if you are panhandling for electricity. Extra panic points if you’re using Google Maps when it dies.
Too Many Streaming Services, Nothing to Watch
Remember when TV only had five channels? Now you have Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Disney+, and Apple TV, and still have absolutely nothing to watch. You spend more time scrolling Netflix than watching anything, and by the time you pick a show, you are already half-asleep.
The Endless Password Circus
Recall when “open sesame” was just fairy tale dialogue? Now you have a 16-character password complete with a capital letter, digit, emoji, your blood type, and maiden name of cat — and you’ll STILL have trouble remembering it tomorrow!
Your Job Follows You Home
Leaving in 1994 meant… leaving work. Now your boss can email you at 10 PM, Slack you on weekends, or demand a Zoom call from your kitchen table. “Remote work” seemed idyllic—until it erased all boundaries we had finally achieved.
Privacy Is Basically Dead
Used to be, your life was yours alone. Now? Every photo, every opinion, every stupid mistake can go viral. People are posting their hospital experiences, divorce rants, even funerals. And if you are not online? People think you are hiding something. Privacy isn’t just lost—it’s suspicious.
You Can’t Trust Anything Online
Fake news. Fake reviews. Deepfakes. AI-authored articles. Even the internet’s reality has trust issues. From scammers posing as customer service interactions to influencers hawking fake products, it’s tiring trying to keep track of what is legitimate and what is mere algorithmic bait.
Notifications Are Mentally Exhausting
Every ding, buzz, or pop-up steals your attention—and sanity. Whether it is breaking news, app updates, or your cousin tagging you in a meme from 2016, it never stops. Constant alerts = constant anxiety. Silence used to be golden. Now it feels suspicious.
Being Tracked By Your Own Devices
30 years ago, only one was tracking you – your dog. Today, Google knows where you have been, apps monitor your sleeps, your smartwatch knows your heartbeat, your car knows your routes and your fitnesswatch counts every step. Congratulations — you are living in a spy movie, and the bad guy is your own technology.
Influencer Envy
Thirty years ago, you envied just your rich neighbour. Now 22-year-olds are on Instagram showing off designer handbag collections, Bali getaways, and radiant skin — you’re in sweats, eating cold leftovers, wondering what went wrong.
The News Is Meant to Break You Now
30 years ago, people received news once or twice a day. Today, it is a constant doom-scroll of global climate catastrophes, break-ups of celebrities, and political mayhem. You are perpetually informed and obsessively anxious about things that don’t have any relevance in your life.
You Can’t Escape Group Chats
One time, you hung up on a call, and that was it. Today, you have 8 WhatsApp chat groups, 3 Facebook threads, and one perpetually cursed family group that sends memes, chain messages, and drama ceaselessly. Quitting? Social suicide. Muting? Still stressful.
Fear of Missing an Update
Software updates didn’t plague people in the ’90s. Now, skip one and your phone is glitching out on you, your laptop is wheezing away, and apps are whining at you like pesky toddlers. It is technology bedlam — and you’re the burnt-out parent.
Public WiFi Desperation
In 1994, no one was searching for coffee shops simply to score free internet. Now you’re essentially tracking WiFi signals around like a bloodhound waiting in malls or lots for a fix of “connectivity.”
Phone Anxiety Is a Real Thing Now
Nobody wanted to answer landline phones, but at least it was as normal as it gets. Now? A real call sends your soul out of your body. “Why didn’t they just text?” is the new crisis of existence. Voicemails? Essentially, horror movies in auditory form.
You Wanted to Purchase One Item… Now You Are in a Loyalty Program
You can’t purchase a sandwich without being invited to download an app, scan a QR code, or disclose your blood type. Would you like a coffee? Just register for an account, become part of the rewards club, and earn 10% off of your sanity.
Fear of Unfiltered Photos
In those days, you snapped a shot and developed it, and moved on. Today? Perfect angle, perfect lighting, perfect filter — and god forbid anyone tags you in a raw, unedited pic. Delete, block, disown.
Constant Comparison Syndrome
Thirty years ago, you compared yourself to your small circle. Now? You compare yourself to thousands of people on the internet that you don’t know, thinking, Why can’t I live on a yacht? Why does my avocado toast not look perfect? It is a recipe for permanent dissatisfaction.
18 Forgotten Etiquette Rules That Should Make a Comeback
Back then, etiquette was not just for stuffy dinner parties; it was about not annoying everyone around you. Somewhere between texting at the table and ghosting on plans, we lost sight of simple etiquette. Here are 18 forgotten etiquette rules that deserve a serious comeback.
18 Forgotten Etiquette Rules That Should Make a Comeback
19 Chores Boomers Had to Do That Kids Today Wouldn’t Dream Of
No, it was not a TikTok dance or asking Alexa to make things happen. Prior to iPads and DoorDash, kids were basically free labor. Here are the 21 chores Boomers did as kids that would put today’s kids straight into therapy.
19 Chores Boomers Had to Do That Kids Today Wouldn’t Dream Of