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50 Posts About The 80s And 90s That Today’s Kids Probably Won’t Get, As Shared On This Facebook Group
No matter what we do or how we feel about it, time keeps marching forward. And while reminiscing about the past can be a double-edged sword, providing both melancholy and comfort, the Facebook group 'Grew Up In The 80's and The 90's' invites people to do just that.
Though this online community is quite young even by the internet's standards (it was created in January 2019), 1.6 million people have already joined it, sharing everything that they remember from the two decades.
So whether you want a strong dose of nostalgia or simply to learn what the good old days were all about, we invite you to check out these handpicked posts we gathered from the group.
More info: Facebook
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They’re The Golden Girls You Buy Off Wish
Silver Surfer
The word nostalgia was first coined in 1688 by Swiss physician Johannes Hofer, who defined it as a neurological illness of continually thinking about one's homeland and longing for return.
It wasn't until the 19th century that nostalgia began to be seen as a positive sentiment, rather than a pathological condition. The legendary Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, for example, viewed nostalgia as a way of reconnecting with our past in order to understand our present. For Jung, nostalgia was a way to access the "collective unconscious"—the shared history and experiences that we all have as human beings.
And looking at the content of this group, one can definitely see where he was coming from.
If You Know, You Know
Ahhhh, these actually had 2 uses in my country lol, 1st to keep the film, 2nd to keep my great grandmother's powder tobaco ( snuff, i think its how its called on English)
My Aunt Was Getting Rid Of Some Things And Gave Me These Treasures From My Childhood. I Know They're Not Worth Much, But The Memories Are Priceless
My 1991 Cassette Mixtape. 🎧 Kids Today Couldn’t Imagine The Time And Effort To Make These! I Did Replicate This On My Current Streaming Services, So I’m Current With The Times
There was never enough room to write most of the titles on one line, mine always ended up with tiny text I could barely read 😁
Over the past decade or so, some comprehensible literature on the psychology of nostalgia has developed. Research shows that people engage in nostalgic reverie mostly when they're feeling low in an attempt to boost their mood and self-confidence.
Experimental evidence indicates that nostalgia is experienced as an overwhelmingly positive emotion. It not only has the power to boost one's mood but can increase a sense of meaning in life as well. Furthermore, it also raises self-esteem and optimism for the future.
However, some, like University of Southern California psychologist David Newman, argue that these effects may be due more to the experimental setup than to the true nature of nostalgia.
No More Snow Days For Kids In School Now. They Still Have To Go To Virtual School Instead Of A Day Off. Covid Ruined Everything
I Laughed Way Harder Than I Should’ve At This
And They Never Actually Knew Where We Were Which Is Kinda Terrifying And Wouldn't Fly Today
I'd expect that was about as far as we rode in the 60's and 70's. We were glad to have you out of our hair while we still had some.
I saw a chart in a newspaper a little while ago...I don't know how accurate it was, but it claimed the distances traveled by kids on average has gone down every generation since yours. So in the 90s it was like 10/15 percent less than the 80s, and so on. Now kids aren't allowed around the block!
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I will never forget the freakout my friend's mom had when she found out we'd ridden our bikes to a different town to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch.
Across a busy street, up and over a huge bridge that went over the freeway and 2 blocks more for 7-11 11 cent slurpees.
Lived near a state forest with great bike paths that offered a kind of shortcut to two towns over. Was not unusual for the neighborhood kids to ride over 14 miles round trip, just to go to the awesome ice cream stand in the town on the other side of the forest. When the parents found out where we went, they weren't mad, just impressed we were able to actually ride that far through the forest. It was a different time, and people were a lot less fearful of the world in general.
Fifties, too. at age 10, I'd be gone from 8 am to 6 pm on my bike. Mom had no idea where I was.
In the 70s during the summer the only time our parents saw us was at feeding time...
They did a study in Belgium that in the 90/00 and probably earlier kids had a range of about 12,5 km they would do alone now the average is only 300 meter....
We played deep in the isolation of the wooded swamps that surrounded our farms. Being latch-key kids, we had no supervision for hours during the week.
We have a bike trail that used to be a train route through my home town that literally traverses the entire state. We would leave at dawn and go as far as possible to make it home by dark.
I used one that the only "breaking" system was my shoe stuck behind the front fork to stop. Went through a lot of shoes back then...
My brother and I are stilled owed a 'a*s whoopin' for going to the lake to go cook potatoes in a fire with our friends , the threat was enough for us never to do again, it's been 30 years.
Good grief! We used to get up on Saturday mornings, eat breakfast, and leave the house. We often were gone ALL day long, parents had no idea where we were (going over to Connie's house), calling at 5:00 or so to see if we could eat over at a friend's house, maybe spend the night. Had to be back home by dinnertime on Sunday though.
i could never beat my dad though, he made like 130 km. to have a lunch in a city on the other side of the montain... No less tham 50 km. uphill
Or letting me take a run, alone, at 10 pm, when my anxiety was through the roof and I couldn't sleep. I still can't believe I did that.
Late 50s-early 60s, we were riding bicycles sometimes 8 - 10 miles from home. Just as long as we were home by dinnertime.
No idea that in the 70s we rode over 15 miles from home, my mother only found out when I was 35 and was horrified. Went out after breakfast and weren't expected home until just before it got dark. Tony Pott, you are right though, out of her hair!
I was 10 going on 30 and I used to ride my bike upwards of 30-40km a day. Sometimes, I'd rid this route 2-3 times a day. Sometimes, it was further north to Huron Street area. Just because I was a dumb kid.
I remember one day, riding back along Highbury Ave, during a Canada Post strike.
The Warden of the strikers told everyone to stop throwing eggs, and step back from the sidewalk, because I was young. Screenshot...8a-png.jpg 
More than once, my friends and I biked from Philadelphia to Atlantic City (60 miles) as a teen. I put the bike away forever the day I got my driver's license, so I was under 16 on all those excursions.
I legitimately can confirm this is true, as I was on the receiving end of "You rode that bike THERE?! ...AND I WAS OKAY WITH THAT?!!" once.
I'll never foget the bike race my friends and I did. Two laps around a hill, one lap being 6 kilometers with half of it being off-road
Used to ride like 8 miles to the next town to go to the music store to check out all the CDs. One time I got a flat and had to call my dad and have him come pick me up. He was like 'what the hell are you doing over there!? '
My brother and I would go far and wide in the 60's. We would go the river and find all kinds of things. If my parents had a clue of the messes we got into I don't know what would have happened.
And don't forget the playing card clipped to the wheels of our bike for that click, click, click sound as our wheels turned round and round!
My brother and I would ride our bikes to the gas station to get candy for a dime. We were like 6 and 8 years old.
We walked/hiked 3 miles to the mall that is regularly featured as a sad example of abandoned malls. It was bulldozed and made into an Amazon hub. If you tried to walk that path you would probably get robbed or shot.
And the 70's, and 80's! Remember, it wasn't better back then, there just wasn't nearly as much information being shared to tell people what was going on, even in their own neighborhood. When I was 12, a girl was raped and killed, with her body being left right by one of the entrances to my neighborhood (a bunch of interconnected streets with only 4 entrances/exits on the top of a hill). I doubt we would have known if I hadn't been stopped by the police blockade on my way home that evening. I had to prove where I lived before they'd let me pass.
When I was 12 I spent a day exploring the BART system ("subway" SF bay area rapid transit). It was new and you only paid for the distance between enter station / exit station. It has over 100 miles of track and road all of it. Got off and explored walking around SF for a while. Also a mall in another town, maybe Oakland. Point being if I had gone missing they would not have even known what city to start looking in.
There was a scientific evaluation of the range kids was supposed to bike around over 4 generations of Copenhagen kids from the wealthy outskirts of town. Great grandfather was allowed to ride from Royal deer garden and all the way into the city - about 30 miles in all directions. Youngest generation was allowed to drive in the neighborhood - about 2.5 miles in all directions
As a kid in the 80's. Christmas Eve my mom told me and little bro to go out and play for a few hours. Walked for miles into these vacant fields, and brought home a couple of steer skulls we found.
Back when I was a kid my siimgs and I would get with other kids and ride our bike to a gas station about a mile or two away to get candy and snacks. They knew and were just like "ok, see ya later",😆
I was born in '95. I played out. Kids these days just barely seem to go outside. I mean, I don't go out much now, but STILL >.>
My parents had a pretty good idea of how far I was going. The local pool was about 31/2 miles away. The GF wasc15 miles away (long uphill slog to get there, but 45 to 50 mph in some stretches on the way back.) Friends houses ranged from about a mile to that 15 mule ride. Local national park was about 12 miles in a different direction. The house rule was I needed to tell them where I was going and about when I should be expected back.
I couldn’t go anywhere without my family knowing about it because my entire neighborhood was super vigilant, as most of my neighbors had kids around my age. It’s a shame I’ve lost touch with many of the kids with whom I grew up!
Like the time my father found out that me and a high school friend had biked all the way to a town that was two towns over so we could get old fashioned ice cream.
That Class Has Probably Served Me More Than Any Other Class I Took In High School
Exploring the relationship between nostalgia and mood, Newman and colleagues performed a time-lag analysis, meaning they correlated people's feelings of nostalgia with mood later that day and the next day.
The results showed that mood tended to remain low throughout that time period. This suggests that nostalgia is either ineffective at boosting mood or that it even causes feelings of depression. Other possible negative effects of nostalgia include:
- A sense of loneliness and isolation;
- Dwelling on the past and becoming unhappy with the present;
- Becoming less likely to take action in the present.
I Used To Wonder What Kevin's Parents Were Doing For A Living But Now I Realize They Were Both Actors
Loved That Guy On Home Improvement
My Sister Always Looked For Hayley In The 70s. There Were Never Any Hayley’s. Now It’s Such A Common Name
Total Realtor Glamour Shot Style Picture
But what is it about these two decades that people remember? Well, in the 1980s, many embraced a new conservatism in social, economic, and political life, characterized by the policies of U.S. President Ronald Reagan and, in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
For some, the 1960s and 1970s had been a troubling time: the countercultural movements of the era, the Watergate scandal, the Vietnam War, the energy crisis, rising crime, and inflation had undermined Americans' confidence in their fellow citizens and in their government. But the 1980s are often regarded for the opposite, namely its materialism and consumerism.
This period also saw the rise of the "yuppie," an explosion of blockbuster movies and the emergence of cable networks like MTV, which introduced the music video and launched the careers of many iconic artists, and the emergence of the AIDS crisis, which would go on to kill more than 700,000 people in the U.S. alone.
This Is Why We Typed “You” As “U” “Are” As “R” Ect
Yup!
One Of The Best Cinderella Movies Ever Made
But It Feels So Right
In the 90s, you used a AOL CD that happened to be lying around 💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿💿
Similarly, the 1990s is also often remembered as a decade of relative peace and prosperity. The Soviet Union fell, ending the decades-long Cold War, and the rise of the Internet ushered in a radical new era of communication, business, and entertainment.
Canadian novelist, designer, and visual artist Douglas Coupland thinks that for North Americans and Europeans, the 1990s possessed a sense of happiness that seems long vanished.
"Money still generated money. Computers were becoming fast easy and cheap, and with them came a sense of equality for everyone," he wrote. "Things were palpably getting better everywhere. History was over and it felt great. I also remember working at Wired magazine, though, in 1993, and having a discussion about the internet with one of the editors, Kevin Kelly. The thrust was that there was an internet, sure, but there was nowhere to go. Kevin said, 'Nonsense,' and took me to a website showing a slowly downloading weather map of Northern California and southern Oregon."
As A Kid: "Look At That Jet Ski!" Adult: "A New Kitchen!"
Between Our Windbreakers And Hairspray, Wind Never Stood A Chance
It Was True. They Just Forgot To Mention That Removing The Ink Would Also Obliterate The Paper
Thats Problem Solving Skills Right There! Kids Don't Know What It's Like To Have To Start All The Way Over When You Run Out Of Lives!
I play too many games on cool math games. So I know what it's like lol
So what can we do if we think about those times and find ourselves in a bad place instead of a good one? Experts suggest to:
- Think about the present moment. What are you doing right now that you enjoy?
- Make an effort to connect with others in the present. Spend time with people you care about. Talk to them about your positive memories.
- Do things that make you happy. Listen to music, go for walks, and watch your favorite movie.
- Talk to a therapist. If you're feeling particularly down, talking to a therapist can help.
- Be mindful. Be aware of how much time you spend dwelling on the past.
It's How I Taught My Son In The Late 90s
Isn’t It Amazing How Many Of Us ‘Smoked’ Candy And Grew Up To Not Be Smokers. Weird How That Happens
I Loved Them When I Was Little. My Parents Had To Hide Them From Me So I Wouldn't Eat Them All
Terrible When The Teacher Caught The Notes. My Hs History Would Read The Notes To The Class
You Could Fry An Egg On These Things
riding down on greaseproof bread wrappers to make them go faster (50s/60s)
I Think It Was The Fancy Dinner Party In The Ad. I Always Begged Mum To Buy It But She Never Did. I Had Some Recently And Was A Touch Disappointed. The Chocolate Isn't The Nicest
If I Could Only Keep 1 Show From My Childhood, This Is It. And It's Not Even Close
I loved this show sooooo much, I still get upset when I think about all the little builders they ate.
Simpler Times Then
Chacha And Kinicki Straight Up Looking Like Somebody's Parents Embarrassing The Hell Out Of Their Kids At The High School Dance
John Travolta was 23 at the time that he played 18-year-old Danny Zuko, while Newton-John was 29 – more than 10 years older than Sandy, who was written to be 17 or 18 years old. Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo, the leader of the Pink Ladies, was 33 at the time of filming, making her the oldest of the main cast.
What A Treasure
The Pinnacle Of My Childhood Artistic Career
I Miss These Kind Of Commercials
You definitly need to watch European comercials from that era lmao, some of them are frikking amazing, today they would have a rated R classification. Saw One a few days a go for a famous brand of ketshup, and i never laughed só hard in my life.
My Dad's Text Tone Was "Not The Momma". Miss Hearing That
"Ernest -- My A*s. I Can See -- My A*s." "And There's Something Really Wrong With Your Neck Too."
I saw a rumor that they're going to remake this with Kate Hudson in Goldie's role
My 8yo Self Used To Really Watch This
In Honor Of The Death Of Angela Lansbury, This Was One Of My Favorite Childhood Movies
So When I Was 8 Years Old I Would Have Given My Right Arm For One These Classics 😂 It’s Only Taken 35 Years But I Can Honestly Say My 8 Year Old Self Is A Very Happy Little Girl
This Hit The Feels
Found This Gem At My Parents House Today
I Can Hear This Photo
Very Old School
Always Thought She Was Fishing For A Man
In The 80s It Was A Hockey Card And A Cloth Pin
Look What I Found At Costco For My Granddaughters Christmas Gift. I Was So Excited I Actually Squealed
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Your Face Would Get Very Hot And You'd Really Have To Watch Your Hair. Dangerous Maneuver!
Very True
It Was Great. You Could Skip The First Tape With The Mushy Love Story And Jump To The Second Tape With All The Action
Note: this post originally had 118 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
I have yet to see Dream Phone here anywhere. Who remembers Dream Phone? The cringe is real in hindsight.
I remember desperately wanting Dream Phone! Never did get it...
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This should honestly be re-titled as ""Only People Who Grew Up In The ’80s And The ’90s in the USA Will Understand" I mean, I knew a few of these (despite being born in '95 that is) but once again, very US themed. xP
Anywhere on the internet, this type posts are almost all about Americans. No problem with that, but it's false advertising for many people. You're right, they should retitle these articles
Load More Replies... I will leave you with three movie titles: The Last Starfighter, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Big Trouble in Little China.
It’s funny, I always read these “only 90s kids will understand” posts, and I remember and understand over half of them. I was born in 2004, a lot of this stuff was still around when I was young
I find it so interesting to go through lists like these, even though I really don't get a lot of things (I'm was born in 2007) But I love learning a little bit more and some things I know too! I know and love Alf for example too :)
Im suprised bored panda didnt censor number 14 ... For those that dont know it says You are a (4 letter C word)
There is literally nothing better than nostalgia anything! 80's and 90's nostalgia, that is ;)
Why no mention of graffiti covered subway cars in NY? Well, and then there are the twin towers... NY-WTC-lzp...794a13.gif 
Thank you SO MUCH for this! Really made me smile! Ok, I'm old, but don't judge!
As someone who grew up in the '80s, this really made me smile - so I'm clearly old - don't judge, the '80s were the best!
I love to see these because it radiates "back in my day vibes". almost everything listed here can be modernized and boom, younger generations experienced it too.
American girl dolls,skip-its,tamagachi,Adidas soccer shoes,hair wraps..ahh the good old days
I have yet to see Dream Phone here anywhere. Who remembers Dream Phone? The cringe is real in hindsight.
I remember desperately wanting Dream Phone! Never did get it...
Load More Replies... This should honestly be re-titled as ""Only People Who Grew Up In The ’80s And The ’90s in the USA Will Understand" I mean, I knew a few of these (despite being born in '95 that is) but once again, very US themed. xP
Anywhere on the internet, this type posts are almost all about Americans. No problem with that, but it's false advertising for many people. You're right, they should retitle these articles
Load More Replies... I will leave you with three movie titles: The Last Starfighter, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Big Trouble in Little China.
It’s funny, I always read these “only 90s kids will understand” posts, and I remember and understand over half of them. I was born in 2004, a lot of this stuff was still around when I was young
I find it so interesting to go through lists like these, even though I really don't get a lot of things (I'm was born in 2007) But I love learning a little bit more and some things I know too! I know and love Alf for example too :)
Im suprised bored panda didnt censor number 14 ... For those that dont know it says You are a (4 letter C word)
There is literally nothing better than nostalgia anything! 80's and 90's nostalgia, that is ;)
Why no mention of graffiti covered subway cars in NY? Well, and then there are the twin towers... NY-WTC-lzp...794a13.gif
Thank you SO MUCH for this! Really made me smile! Ok, I'm old, but don't judge!
As someone who grew up in the '80s, this really made me smile - so I'm clearly old - don't judge, the '80s were the best!
I love to see these because it radiates "back in my day vibes". almost everything listed here can be modernized and boom, younger generations experienced it too.
American girl dolls,skip-its,tamagachi,Adidas soccer shoes,hair wraps..ahh the good old days
