Now that I am older, it is easier for me to understand the differences between my childhood and the childhood kids today are having. With technology advancing so rapidly, I’m happy to say that most of my childhood consisted of minimal technology compared to life today. Having a technology-free childhood is one of the reasons why growing up in the early 2000s was the best. Social media and iPhones did not exist during this time. Young kids are not experiencing childhood like a lot of us did because they are so invested in all this new technology. With the dependence on technology, a lot of kids are trying to grow up too fast, losing the innocence that all kids have. It is sad to think that childhood is not what it used to be. Here are some of the reasons growing up in the early 2000s is better than today.
No Cell Phones
I have seen kids as young as 8 with cell phones. When I was that age, I was playing with dolls, playing outside and playing “house” with my friends. I knew childhood had changed drastically when I saw a baby around one years old have a fit because he wasn’t watching YouTube videos on his mom's phone. How sad is that? The baby’s happiness depended on the phone. When we were all babies, we did not have a phone to keep us happy; we had toys and we are all still alive!
Communication
“AIM? What's that?” Did you hear that? That’s the sound of my heart shattering when a 12-year-old asked me what my favorite form childhood communication was. When technology was introduced to my childhood, it was AIM. I will never forget around fourth or fifth grade when kids in class were talking about it. I was so excited that I went home that night and made only the coolest screen name on the planet, “blingblingtk58.” Cute, right? How popular did you feel when there were more than two chats open? AIM was the first major change in communication in my childhood. It was one step up from the landline and three steps up from passing notes in class. Now, a text or a FaceTime is the typical communication for kids. RIP AIM.
Innocence
Younger girls are looking older and older. There is no awkward stage anymore. 12-year-old girls can do better makeup than I can. S.O.S. I need to look better than these kids. I'm happy that during my childhood, I had a chance to be a “little girl” and not feel pressured to look good and act all grown up. I shopped at Limited Too, not American Apparel. I'm glad I had a chance to play outside for hours and transform my room into a life-sized doll house. Now I'm not saying that no kids play outside or play with dolls anymore, but I am saying that it is a lot less common to see that with the change in childhood and with the growth of technology. My glittery shirt can outshine all these pretty young girls.
Music
Whenever I wanted to take music on the go, I would bring my HitClips. For those of you who don't know, HitClips is a music player that plays one minute clips. Each song had its own "clip" and you would insert it into the audio player. Those things were my life! The best part is I recently found my HitClips when I was cleaning out my aunt's house! Score! The more music you had clipped the cooler you were. When I was at home, I would play my Hilary Duff and JoJo CDs on my Bratz Dolls CD player. Since music devices have changed so drastically throughout the years, I feel like I have a deeper appreciation for music.
TV
You can't even deny it, but the "Lizzie McGuire" era of Disney Channel was the best. I think that era of Disney was the best because it was so real. The acting and the settings were all so relatable and you felt like Lizzie McGuire was your older sister, Raven Baxter was your crazy best friend and Louis Stevens was your annoying neighbor. You definitely can't connect with Disney characters how you used to. RIP good Disney Channel shows.
Internet
Nothing like coming home from school and playing "Cash Cow" on Webkinz. Since there was no social media, searching the Web consisted of playing computer games for hours. There were the more popular websites I would spend my time on, like Webkinz, Club Penguin, WeeMee and myscenedolls.com. The real fun was when I got deep into the Internet and played games on Gamepost and MySpace doll maker. A world without Musical.ly? What a time to be alive.
Life was just a lot simpler when I was a kid and that’s how it should be for all. No phones, no bad Disney Channel shows and definitely no winged liner better than a 19-year-old. Life in the early 2000s was awesome and I wish we could all go back.
