Thinking back of growing up in the 2000’s I can’t stress how much I miss those times. I’m a guy born in 2003 and it feels like this was the core environment that shaped my identity and this is missing now.
I don’t know how much this is just normal nostalgia that every generation will have about their childhood, but this feels special. If I could describe the times of my childhood in one word, I would call it “wholesome”.
Growing up in a world that started to have modern tech but didn’t have this hyperconnected depressing digital landscape of social media and phones that we are finding us in now, I’m thinking it might’ve been the optimal environment for experiencing joy and I miss it so much.
I miss the times of constantly spending time outside with other kids and even the tech where all we had was a Nintendo 3DS but the system was so immersive and detailed where I spend so much time just collecting coins in StreetPass by walking outside, connecting to friends and making Mii’s and watching them walk through the Mii maker, sending virtual letters to friends etc. And of course, I also miss the shows such as Zoe 101, iCarly, Victorious and the movies, the creativity of crafting things.
Nowadays everything feels so cold and soulless. Everything seems to maximize on efficiency and is so fast paced. Kids nowadays grow up with hyperconnected phones watching brain rot short form TikToks without an end and without any meaning. It feels like there is no “character” and no “vibe” to the world anymore.
It’s like this immergence of this hyper connected digital landscape removed and destroyed our souls and now we are all zombies.
I miss the joy, the glamor and it feeling like endless times as if I would stay a kid forever. But turns out this is not the case and now I’m finding myself in this cold and meaningless world searching for the depth, purpose, joy and meaning that I only remember from my childhood when I felt small and the world seemed so big and like a giant adventure. Now everything overwhelms me and it feels frustrating always being able to get everything and the temptation feels so strong that it seems impossible to distance myself from the modern distractions. I wish they would design products as playful, joyful and wholesome like they were when I was a kid again and that we could generally have such a culture back.
Anyone else feeling like this?
Try to relax. You’re only 21 or 22 and likely coming to terms with a lot of things about life. People talk a lot about the challenges of puberty, but a hell of a lot less about the massive transistion into being an “adult”.
There are a shit ton of people your age all claiming to have it figured out, and most of those “genius” ideas tend to boil down to sex booze or some other concept of bacchanalian freedom compared to a repressed childhood. Anyone your age who thinks they have it all sorted out is, at best, going through the life experience version of the dunning-krueger effect. Ignore them.
The majority of what you’ve described is bog standard nostalgia and missing the freedom and free time of childhood. You were far more connected than my generation immediately preceeding yours, but I have the same sort of thoughts about childhood. Just with different cultural touch points to make up my “this is evidence things were so much better”.
Every generation has this to differing degrees.
I miss playful, joyful, and wholesome content too… like internet before major centralized social media. Before the concept of “going viral” was even a thing. That goddamn dancing baby gif. When the closest thing to an “influencer” was a local news host.
You talk of making Miis. I remember playground rumors about Pokemon Red and Blue. The amazement after beating the elite four in Gold to find the whole first gen map as post-game content. Mother. Fucking. Runescape. Exploring every inch of the City Trial map in Kirby’s Air Ride. Coming up with custom “game modes” in Smash Bros Melee (highest spawn rate of items. Only crates, party balls, capsules, and bob-ombs. Sudden death, 5 minute timer, doubled launch speed). All sorts of shenanigans with Star Wars Battlefront 2, some friends and I used to record play sessions on VHS and narrate over them like some sort of proto-let’s play before those first became a thing on the Something Awful forums.
There is definitely acceleration towards more and more things being efficiencied to hell and back, more focus on everything milking as much money out of all things as possible… but most of what you’re describing is the loss of childlike wonder and the time to “explore”, which is experienced by every generation.
I can’t stress enough the massive difference that losing the absurd amount of free time you had as a kid causes. It’s also a shit ton easier to make and maintain friendships when you’re all in roughly the same places at the same time instead of spread over god knows how many place of work, work schedules, etc.
Life as an adult is harder. There’s far more things eating your time.
I’ve been watching a lot of old Mister Rogers Neighborhood with my infant daughter lately. We just finished the first season/year of it. 1968.
This is a song he originally made for young children in 1968, but it still has something I think may be relevant to you as a 20 something year old in 2025. From his song “Please Don’t Think It’s Funny”
Life gets harder, busier, and more complicated as you age. It’s not a particularly comforting fact. But there’s a different kind of feeling of accomplishment that makes it worth it.
The world is just as wide open as it used to be. There’s just as much room for creativity, warmth connection, etc. You’re just becoming more aware of the work it takes to get there.
Also, my biggest advice: get offline more. Go to local parks, gardens, etc. Get out into the world and go experience things that interest you. It’s the best cure for the overconnected blues I (and most people I speak to) have found. It’s cliche, but go touch grass. Read books instead of doom scrolling.
Stop every once in a while, like once a week, and try to evaluate how you spent ypur time. For your free time, did you truly enjoy it or were you just wasting time. I waste a ton of time in ways that aren’t really refreshing/recharging/satisfying and it just takes continued effort over time to change that.
You’ll make it.