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 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
It’s practically a rite of passage to have at least one chapter of your life where you looked a little cringe.
And while those awkward years happen to almost everyone, most of us keep the photographic evidence locked away. The bad haircuts, the odd fashion choices—buried deep. But maybe they deserve a little more appreciation. After all, they’re the building blocks of personality and a great sense of humor.
On the subreddit “Blunder Years,” people embrace that philosophy, proudly posting their regrettable old photos for the world to see. Keep scrolling for the glorious proof and please, feel free to share your own.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
1996 I Sewed My Own Dog Vest And I Loved It So Much
RELATED:
#2
Around 2009 I Got Really Into Photoshopping Myself In Surreal Ways
#3
When Your 15yo Swagger Says “Jolly Lesbian Aunt"
Sometimes, when I look at modern kids and teenagers, I sigh.
Not because they’re rowdy, messy, scary, or loud, but because they all look so good. With beauty tips, fashion trends, and endless tutorials right there on their phones, they seem to have skipped the part of life where we all looked a little… experimental.
#4
My Sister Asked Me To Post This For Her. She Asked The Babysitter To Make Her Look Like Ernie. She Loved Ernie
#5
With Permisson, My Partners School Photo 2002
#6
I Blame My Mom For This One
Where are the glittery lip glosses from teen magazines that stuck to your hair in the wind? The DIY haircuts gone wrong? The capri leggings under dresses that stopped mid-calf for no logical reason?
Do they even get an awkward phase anymore?
#7
My Dad And I Can’t Decide Who Blundered Worse
#8
This Is What "Rizz" Looked Like In The 90's
#9
It Was 2007 And My Very First Car
Robert van Deventer 3 months ago
I had a 960 and honestly, I felt the bomb, the 850 was a bit too racy for me so well done you!
Because honestly, everyone should. There’s nothing quite like it. An awkward phase is character-building. Those teenage years—the peak of questionable choices—are when we’re figuring out who we are. We try on different styles, interests, and friend groups like outfits. We defend opinions we’ll later outgrow. It’s messy, chaotic, and absolutely necessary.
#10
Revived My 'Dead' 2008 MacBook And Found A Treasure Trove Of Cringe, Nostalgia, And A Photo Of Me Holding My First Daughter For The First Time
#11
I Still Think I’m Avril Lavigne
#12
Dorm Room Pics, Sent To My Internet Girlfriend In 2003
Part of it comes down to biology. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for planning, decision-making, and impulse control, doesn’t fully mature until our mid-to-late twenties. Which means the impulsive decisions, the social uncertainty, and the cringe-worthy moments are all just part of growing up.
When I think back to my 18-year-old self, I sometimes wonder how on earth I thought or acted the way I did. And yet, I’d protect her in a heartbeat. She needed to go through all that trial and error to become me now.
#13
My Wife, Age 5
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago (edited)
Guessing late 80s? Many, many terrible style choices were made then. I know. I lived them. So many bows ...
#14
Me After I Discovered Photoshop In The Early 2010s
#15
Just A Third Grader In ‘93 Heading To A Long Day At The Office
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
Please, please, please don't make padded shoulder jackets a thing again, fashionistas!
And here’s the thing, it’s supposed to look bad in hindsight. Trends change. What was once the height of fashion eventually becomes the subject of group chats and meme folders. But in the moment? Those outfits and haircuts made us happy. We wore them proudly.
So when we look back and cringe, maybe we should actually be proud. It means we’ve grown, evolved our tastes, and refined our style.
#16
Prom, 2019. "Date" (Just A Friend) Was Sick, So All I Brought Was This "Cool, Yet Mysterious" Aura
#17
17 Year Old Me Dressing Up As Ciel From Black Butler For Senior Prom
#18
In 2004, I Was Madly In Love With My First Laptop - An Acer Travelmate—and The Feeling Was Mutual
Rafael 3 months ago (edited)
Owning a laptop in 2004 was like having a spaceship - a TARDIS for that matter. Look at the PCs in 2004 and imagine having THAT in your backpack! I wouldn't be this cringe, but I had my first one back then (a salvage from a fire) and was in love too. I don't think any other piece of technology will feel that special to me anymore.
Of course, if your past self still makes you want to hide under a blanket, you’re not alone. And according to clinical psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, there’s a way to soften the blow of those memories.
“Give yourself a break,” she says.
The only reason we cringe at the memories is because we think we did something wrong or ridiculous. However, we can’t go through life without making mistakes. So permit yourself to experience the full range of human emotions.
#19
I Swear To God, A Fellow Little Girl In Public Asked Her Mom If I Was A Rock Star In This Fit
#20
Bleached My Roots Just In Time For Picture Day
#21
Yes, Yes We Did Wear This To A High School Dance…
Hendriksen also points out that when we recall a cringe moment, we rarely remember the full story.
“Cringe attacks play a short movie clip: a split second of sneezing snot on your boss. The look on your friend’s face after you told that joke you didn’t realize was offensive. The few seconds it took your crush to say oh, um, sorry, she already had a date to prom,” she says.
“Expand the movie to include before and after to give your cringeworthy moment some context,” Hendriksen suggests. “Think about the other times you interacted with that teacher, hung out with that friend, or delighted in pining after your crush rather than zeroing in on the lowest of the lowlights.”
#22
Me In 2016. I Was Melanie Martinez's Biggest Fan, I Wore Blue Lipstick And Crybaby Merch To School Every Single Day; Especially For Picture Day
#23
2005 Myspace Bathroom Mirror Selfie At Grandma's House With A Samsung Flip Phone. 19 Years Old
#24
My 8th Grade Spring Picture
Ffinally, share it with someone who’ll have your back. A good friend will support you, not roast you (well, not too much). Even strangers online, like those in the “Blunder Years” subreddit or the comments section of Bored Panda, often respond with surprising kindness.
So embrace your awkward era. Post the photo. Laugh at it. And remember, it’s proof you’ve lived.
#25
Our 2009 Photo Shoot In My Bedroom, Age 16
#26
2007. Remember Bathroom Selfies On A Camera?
#27
When I Thought I Was The Coolest Tween In The World For Carrying This Mini Goat Around Everywhere
#28
Just Found This Sub. I Love This! Here's Me 😂
#29
This Was My Profile Picture In 2016 Because I Was Very Cool And It Was Important Everyone Knew That I Gave Zero Fucks
#30
My Favorite Photo Of My Wife As A Child, Circa 2003
#31
I Was Obsessed With Honey Bunches Of Oats When I Was 12, So I Edited My Face Onto Each Almond On The Box Using The Family Wii
#32
(2012) I Was So Happy That My Mum Allowed Me To Do This Ugly A*s Haircut And Considered My Style Very Cool And Unique. And Yes, A Huge Mcr Fan, Of Course
#33
My Dad And I Pokémon Go Hunting In 2016. I Was 14 In This Picture And Looked Like A 50 Year Old Divorced Female Alcoholic
#34
Found A Folder On My Grandparents Computer
Chris the Bobcat 3 months ago
If I was in school with her I would have wanted to ask her out but would have been too intimidated because I was a complete wvssy.
#35
I Went As Neytiri For Halloween
#36
Went Through A Cats Phase When I Was 11 And Auditioned For Agt In Full Cat Drag 😭
#37
Old Myspace Profile, My Name Was Annamosity
Ms.GB 3 months ago (edited)
That looks very similar to me when I dressed up as a killer doll one Halloween. The pigtails, the hatchet, the blood. I had a babydoll dress and mary janes on. I went to a rave and was dancing next to this club kid who accidentally backhanded me in the face because he was dancing on foot high boots and swinging his arms around. Yes, it was the 90s.
#38
I Peaked At 13 (2011)
#39
What Was I Thinking At 15 Years Old
#40
Speaking Of Halloween Blunders
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
Yeah, I get cultural appropriation, but my dad was stationed in Korea right after I was born and a Korean officer became my Godfather in the 60s. He gifted me with Korean children's clothes which I later wore as a Halloween costume (when was I ever going to wear it otherwise?) complete with a black wig my mom made. Is this so terrible? Was not making fun of the culture and was glad to find a way to show off the clothes!
#41
Had A Rent Inspection The Next Day, Late 2000s
#42
16 Year Old Me Lmao. I Ended Up Shaving That Half Mohawk Off In One Solid Piece. And Me Now!!
#43
Church Youth Group Band Photo Circa 2007
#44
Me Seconds After Throwing One Of The Worst Hissy Fits I Can Remember Because My Parents Would Not Allow Me To Pose With My Bootleg Pikachu Doll At A Funeral In 2006
#45
I See Your Viral Youtube Video And Raise You: Almost 1m Views On Middle School Pokemon Video, We Thought We Were Rockstars
#46
I Really Thought It Was Ok To Have A Full Head Of Dreads As A 16 Year Old White Girl, I’m So Glad Those Days Are Over And My Hairs Grown Out
#47
My Wife And I In 2005, She Liked My Personality
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
You are a perfectly normal, cute couple. Nothing to cringe about here.
#48
My Wife And I, 14 Years Ago, In The Mall... Still Posted On Facebook
#49
Soviet Child Preaches The Barbie Dream To The People
Carl Roberts 3 months ago
Soviet? The USSR collapsed in 1991. That pic is definitely not that old
#50
Me At 15. On The Burner Phone I Bought To Talk To My Boyfriend On After My Mom Took My Phone Away. Pierced My Lips Myself
#51
My Mom Dressed Me Up For An Event
#52
A Tiny Peak Into My Childhood Obsession With Michael Jackson (2009-2018)
#53
To This Day I'm Still Not Photogenic
#54
Me Discovering Photoshop In 2008 Was… Something Else
#56
My Dad Sent Me This Picture The Other Day. I Was 17
#58
Literally Begged My Mom To Buy Me This Shirt In A Delia’s In 2009
#59
Met The Hand Model From The Og Twilight Book Cover. Team Edward? No. Team Jacob? Meh. We’re Team Hand Model Over Here, Baby
#60
That One Time I Was Featured In The Local Newspaper😂
Huddo's sister 3 months ago
I love the one photo of me in the local paper. My grandma proudly displayed it on her wall for years. Skipping-w...f-jpeg.jpg 
#61
My Friend And I Were Never Invited To Parties And We Didn’t Drink. So We Took These Photos And Posted Them To Facebook To Look Like We Did 😂
#62
Circa 2006, My Grandma Paid For Us All To Go To NYC And This Is How I Repaid Her
#65
This Double Exposure Gem
Huddo's sister 3 months ago (edited)
I don't think dance costumes/photos should count, not usually child's choice. I've seen my mum's calesthenics costume from when she was about 6 and it's hideous, but she wouldn't have been the only one in it. I do find it hilarious that my only dance photo in costume was as a plate (from Beauty and the beast). I still have the costume too, complete with headpiece.
#66
16 Year-Old Me Treating A Local Weatherman Like A Celebrity. Had To Rock My Homestuck Shirt And Self-Cut Hair
#67
I Took So Many Selfies. I Posted Them On A Separate Facebook So My Brothers Wouldn't Bug Me About How Cringe They Were. I Now Agree With Them
#68
I Considered Myself A Great Fashionista
#69
2012. 14 Year Old Me Thought This Was Really Good Photography
#70
Skrillex Had Just Blown Up, And I Told A Girl I Had A Big Crush On That I’d Shave Half My Head For The Last Day Of Middle School For Her (2012)
#71
15 And Obsessed With Fight Club. Found The Cigarette On The Ground
#72
It’s The Year 2000 And It’s My 16th Birthday
#73
Just Found This Sub, Inspired Me To Look Through My Old Fb Pics
#74
Me And My Brothers Use To Love Giving An Unannounced ‘Show’ To Our Family
Huddo's sister 3 months ago (edited)
My siblings and I did this too! This photo, I was supposed to be Queen Amidala I think, my sister was Bella from the Tweenies. I have no clue about my brother!
#75
Was Obsessed With Identifying As A ‘Tomboy’.. Pink Walls Were My Parents Choice
#76
My First Kesha Concert 15 Years Ago Wearing A Walmart Fedora And “I Love My BFF” Bracelet 😭 And The Most Awkward Poses…to My 10th Show Today
#78
Year 7 Picture Day (2009, Age 12). I Had Cut My Hair To Look Like Alice From Twilight. Close, But No Cigar
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
I know she probably hates this picture, but I see a cute, natural girl with an amazing hair color. I bet she looks amazing now.
#79
My Mom Just Sent This To Me, And I Guess Now Everyone Else Has To See It Too…
#81
I Thought A Photo Shoot With Terrible Outfits And Anal Beads, Distastefully On Gravestones, Was Cute In Hs
#82
Retired Scene Kid Here. Honourable Mention To My Bed, And Drop Dead
PeepPeep the duck 3 months ago
I both cringe and loved the/my cyber goth fluro green and black days 😂 we stole it off the emos
#83
I Didn’t Get The Memo
#85
I Was A Picnic Table
#86
I Was Told I Should Post Here, So Here’s The Glory That Is Me At 16
#87
Family Vacation To Disney World. Wore This Fedora / Vest Combo Everyday For The Week. The Concierge Said He Didn’t Trust Me
#88
7 Year Old Me In 2011 During Ash Wednesday As Kobe Bryant.... In Black Face
#90
2009- I Was 15 And Thought Noel Fielding Would See This And Fall In Love With Me
#91
Ask And You Shall Receive…my Entire Life Is A Kesha Phase (Don’t Miss Last Few Photos They’re More Recent 😉)
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
I know these are cringe to the posters, but I love seeing young people experiment with their looks and express themselves. Most of these weren't taken to get likes, but just to say, "This is who I am!" (At the time ... lol)
Emilu 3 months ago
Exactly! It's a cute 'slice of life' thing to everyone else, though the posters are likely to judge themselves more harshly than everyone else does.
Load More Replies...
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
I know these are cringe to the posters, but I love seeing young people experiment with their looks and express themselves. Most of these weren't taken to get likes, but just to say, "This is who I am!" (At the time ... lol)
Emilu 3 months ago
Exactly! It's a cute 'slice of life' thing to everyone else, though the posters are likely to judge themselves more harshly than everyone else does.
Load More Replies... You May Like 50 Of The Funniest Signs Ever Spotted In The Wild (New Pics) 155 Funniest Design Fails 50 Funny Christmas Gifts For A Peal Of Merry Laughter
Mantas Kačerauskas
Julija Nėjė
Linas Simonaitis
Related on Bored Panda
