Generation Z, born roughly between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, has grown up in a world vastly different from previous generations. With technology advancing rapidly and societal norms constantly shifting, many experiences and objects that were commonplace just a few decades ago are now entirely foreign to this young generation.
In this blog, I’ll explore 21 things Generation Z will likely never fully understand or experience firsthand.
Dial-up Internet
The screeching sound of a modem connecting to the internet is foreign to Gen Z. They’ll never know the frustration of waiting several minutes for a webpage to load or being kicked off the internet when someone picks up the phone. The slow speeds and unreliable connections of dial-up are a far cry from the instant access Gen Z enjoys today.
VHS Tapes
VHS tapes were once the primary way to watch movies at home. Gen Z won’t understand the need to rewind tapes before returning them to the video store. They’ll never experience the disappointment of a tape getting stuck in the VCR or the satisfaction of adjusting the tracking to fix a fuzzy picture.
Encyclopedia
Before Wikipedia, people relied on heavy encyclopedias for information. Gen Z won’t grasp the concept of owning a set of books that quickly become outdated. They’ll never know the excitement of receiving a yearly update volume or the skill of quickly finding information using alphabetical order.
Floppy Disks
These small storage devices were once cutting-edge technology. Gen Z won’t understand the limited storage capacity of floppy disks or the care needed to prevent data loss. They’ll never experience the frustration of carrying multiple disks for a single project or the satisfying click of inserting a disk into a computer.
Printed Maps
In the age of GPS and smartphone navigation, Gen Z won’t understand the need for physical maps. They’ll never know the challenge of folding a large map back to its original state or the skill required to navigate using landmarks and street names. The art of planning a route before a trip is lost in this generation.
Landline Phones
Gen Z won’t grasp the concept of being tethered to a wall while making a call. They’ll never understand the excitement of getting their own phone line or the frustration of sharing a family phone. The idea of memorizing phone numbers or using a phone book to find contact information is foreign to them.
Cassette Tapes
Before streaming and digital downloads, music was often enjoyed on cassette tapes. Gen Z won’t understand the art of creating the perfect mixtape or the need to fast-forward and rewind to find a specific song. They’ll never experience the satisfaction of fixing a tangled tape with a pencil.
Manual Car Windows
In an age of power windows, Gen Z won’t understand the need to manually crank car windows up and down. They’ll never experience the arm workout that comes with rolling down all the windows on a hot day. The concept of asking passengers to help with their own windows is foreign to them.
Film Cameras
In the era of digital photography, Gen Z won’t understand the excitement and uncertainty of developing film. They’ll never know the anticipation of waiting days or weeks to see how their photos turned out. The concept of having a limited number of shots on a roll of film is foreign to a generation used to taking countless digital photos.
Video Rental Stores
Gen Z won’t grasp the concept of going to a physical store to rent movies. They’ll never experience the excitement of browsing shelves for new releases or the disappointment of finding their chosen movie already rented out. The ritual of returning tapes on time to avoid late fees is lost on this generation.
Pay Phones
In a world of cell phones, Gen Z won’t understand the need for public pay phones. They’ll never know the frustration of searching for spare change to make a call or the skill of quickly relaying information before time runs out. The idea of planning meetups without the ability to easily communicate on the go is foreign to them.
Card Catalogs
Before digital library systems, people used card catalogs to find books. Gen Z won’t understand the skill required to navigate these drawers of index cards. They’ll never experience the satisfaction of finding the right call number or the frustration of discovering a book has been misplaced on the shelves.
Typewriters
Gen Z won’t grasp the concept of typing without the ability to easily edit or delete text. They’ll never know the satisfaction of hearing the keys clack or the bell ring at the end of a line. The skill of changing ribbons or using correction fluid to fix mistakes is lost on this generation.
Rotary Phones
Gen Z won’t grasp the concept of dialing a phone by rotating a wheel. They’ll never know the satisfaction of the clicking sound as the wheel returns to its starting position. The skill of quickly dialing a number on a rotary phone is lost on this generation used to touch screens and speed dial.
TV Antennas
Before cable and streaming services, people relied on antennas for TV reception. Gen Z won’t understand the need to adjust rabbit ears for a clearer picture. They’ll never experience the frustration of losing signal during a crucial moment of their favorite show or the skill of fine-tuning an antenna for optimal reception.
Pagers
Gen Z won’t grasp the concept of carrying a separate device just to receive short messages. They’ll never know the excitement of decoding numeric codes or the frustration of finding a phone to call back the sender. The idea of not being able to immediately respond to a message is foreign to this generation.
Phone Books
In the age of online directories, Gen Z won’t understand the need for massive books listing phone numbers. They’ll never experience the challenge of finding a specific name among thousands of entries or the strength required to lift a large city’s phone book. The concept of regularly receiving updated phone books is lost on them.
Disposable Cameras
Gen Z won’t grasp the concept of using a camera that can’t preview or delete photos. They’ll never know the excitement of getting photos developed, only to find half are blurry or have closed eyes. The idea of carefully rationing a limited number of shots for an entire vacation is foreign to this generation.
Fax Machines
Before email attachments and digital signatures, fax machines were crucial for sending documents quickly. Gen Z won’t understand the need to feed paper into a machine to send a copy across phone lines. They’ll never experience the frustration of a paper jam or the satisfaction of hearing the confirmation beep after a successful transmission.
Record Players
While vinyl has seen a resurgence, Gen Z won’t fully grasp the ritual of playing records. They’ll never know the care required to handle vinyl without scratching it or the skill needed to precisely drop the needle. The concept of flipping a record halfway through an album or the warm, crackling sound of vinyl is foreign to many in this digital generation.
Paper Road Maps
In the age of GPS navigation, Gen Z won’t understand the need for large, folded paper maps. They’ll never experience the challenge of reading a map while driving or the skill required to plot the best route. The concept of navigating using only road signs and a physical map is lost on this generation accustomed to turn-by-turn digital directions
15 Style Rules That Women Over 40 Can Confidently Break
15 Style Rules That Women Over 40 Can Confidently Break
15 Most Popular Songs of the 80s
15 Most Popular Songs of the 80s
10 American Traditions That Canadians Find Confusing
