10 Things We Used to Do Online That Would Confuse Gen Z
We used to live online like it was the Wild West, and Gen Z would probably call the cops if they saw it.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The internet used to be a mess — and we loved it. From sketchy downloads to posting way too much on public forums, we had no shame. If Gen Z looked back at our online habits, they’d be both confused and mildly horrified.
1. Making Custom Ringtones with LimeWire
Sanchmarc on Wikimedia Commons
We didn’t buy ringtones; we risked computer viruses and used LimeWire to download songs illegally just to clip 15 seconds for our Nokia. Sometimes, you thought you were downloading Usher, but it was a guy whispering “Bill Clinton.” We’d then transfer the file using a USB cord and feel like tech geniuses. Gen Z might never understand the thrill of free ringtones… and the malware that came with them.
2. Updating Your Facebook Status Like It’s a Diary
Tony Webster on Wikimedia Commons
We used to post Facebook statuses like “Feeling sad… don’t ask” and fully expected people to ask. It was basically emotional fishing with zero shame. The status would auto-add “is,” so you had gems like “is crying in the shower again.” Gen Z uses private stories and close friends; we put our mental breakdowns on blast.
3. Using MSN Messenger and Logging In/Out to Get Noticed
Bent52 on Wikimedia Commons
We had no chill; if someone didn’t reply, we’d log off and back on just so the “ding!” would pop up in their chat box. It was digital peacocking. Statuses like “BRB, dinner” or “Busy, doing homework” were sacred lies. Gen Z has read receipts, but we had pure, chaotic energy.
4. Taking Webcam Selfies on a 240p Grainy Camera
Peter Placzek on Pexels
Back then, your laptop webcam was basically a potato. We’d take a hundred duck-face photos in our bedroom with the messy background and post them all to Facebook albums. There was no editing, no filters, just raw cringe. Gen Z’s selfie game is clean — ours was more “haunted doll.”
5. Posting Your Entire Life on Forums
Minetest forum contributors on Wikimedia Commons
We treated random forums like group therapy. Ask Jeeves wasn’t enough, so we’d pour our souls out to strangers on topics like “I think my crush looked at me twice today — help?” Forums were full of anonymous wisdom, some of it questionable, all of it oddly comforting. Gen Z has Reddit, sure, but they don’t trauma-dump on Neopets message boards.
6. Using Chain Emails to Avoid Doom
Gorkaazk on Wikimedia Commons
We actually believed that if we didn’t forward an email to 10 people, a ghost girl would appear in our mirror. We took that risk seriously. People were out here saving lives one copy-paste at a time. Gen Z has spam filters; we had superstition and a Hotmail account.
7. Building Dramatic MySpace Profiles
egg on Wikimedia Commons
Your MySpace wasn’t just a profile; it was a digital mood board with glitter GIFs, auto-playing emo music, and a painfully specific “Top 8” friends list. Friendships ended over that list. You had to learn HTML just to make your background sparkle. Gen Z makes BeReals—we made digital chaos.
8. Spending Hours on YouTube Watching Memes in Slideshow Format
須和しわす on Wikimedia Commons
YouTube was filled with low-quality slideshows of cats with Comic Sans captions, and we watched them like it was Netflix. The “badger badger mushroom” video lived rent-free in our heads. Gen Z has curated content—we had vibes and no attention span.
9. Creating Anonymous Ask.fm Accounts
Ask.fm on Wikimedia Commons
We made accounts so people could ask us “honest” questions anonymously, which was code for chaos. Half the time, we were asking ourselves questions to look interesting. The other half was just emotional damage. Gen Z is into mental health awareness; we chose violence.
10. Writing Fan Fiction on Angelfire or Geocities
Navy Blue on Wikimedia Commons
We wrote 20-chapter Harry Potter fanfics with neon green fonts on starry backgrounds. Plot? Questionable. Passion? Unmatched. We lived for every dramatic twist and “Author’s Note: sorry I haven’t updated, school sucks.” Gen Z has TikToks—we had dreams and dial-up.