Ah, the 90s—what a time to be alive! Back when the sun would set on a day spent actually talking to people face-to-face, not glued to a screen. And then AOL showed up, opening the door to a whole new world, where suddenly, the internet was something you could actually experience.
Remember that sweet sound of dial-up connecting? It was like the key to a secret universe. You’d wait patiently (or not so patiently) as your computer made those weird screeching noises, knowing you were about to enter a world where chat rooms ruled and Napster gave you all the free music your heart could handle. And who could forget the joy of hearing, You’ve Got Mail!? That little announcement had a way of making your day—even if it was just another chain email from a friend.
Then came FreeWebs. Now that was mind-blowing. You could make your own website?! Suddenly, we were all web designers, creating pages that were way cooler (in our minds) than anything we had seen before. It felt like the future was at our fingertips, and honestly, it kind of was.
Oh, and chat rooms. Man, chat rooms were everything. A/S/L, anyone? It’s funny, everyone who lived through that time knows exactly what those three little letters mean. You’d jump into a conversation with total strangers, probably lie a little (or a lot) about your age and location, and suddenly, the world felt way bigger than your hometown.
Back then, the dreams were huge. MTV still played actual music, and life felt pretty simple. We didn’t have social media to worry about. There were no likes or retweets or endless scrolling. You just… lived. If you liked a song, you burned a CD and gave it to your friend, or you told them in person. Remember that? Talking to people in person?
But then the world changed. It was slow at first. Social media snuck in, and suddenly, everything became about apps and smartphones. Instead of real-life interactions, we got sucked into our screens, scrolling through other people’s lives instead of living our own. The world outside became less interesting compared to whatever was happening on the internet.
Don’t get me wrong—I love technology. I’m all for my Echo, my smart TV, and my AirPods. They make life easier, for sure. But somewhere along the way, we kind of lost touch with reality. We’ve become so wrapped up in our devices that we’ve forgotten what it feels like to actually be in the world. When’s the last time you sat down and had a conversation with someone without checking your phone every few minutes?
We’ve built these little digital bubbles, where we’re always connected but not really connecting with anyone. We’re so caught up in scrolling, liking, and swiping that we’re missing out on the beauty of real human interaction. A smiley emoji is nice, but it doesn’t compare to actually seeing someone smile in front of you.
And honestly, being glued to a screen all the time just isn’t good for the soul. It’s those real-life moments—having a conversation, sharing a laugh, even just sitting in silence with someone—that make us feel human. Technology’s great, but it doesn’t replace the real connections that lift us up and remind us we’re part of something bigger.
So maybe it’s time to take a break. Step away from the phone, unplug for a bit, and actually live. Go outside, have a real conversation, take in the world around you without feeling the need to post about it. The internet will still be there when you get back, I promise. But those moments spent talking, laughing, and just being—those are the ones that really matter.
The 90s might be long gone, but we can still hold onto some of that magic. We don’t have to live our lives through screens. Let’s get back to experiencing the world the way we used to—by actually being a part of it.
Written By: Stephen Despin Jr. | Founder/Contributor
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