15 Tech Myths We All Believed in the 2000s
Here's a nostalgic trip back to the tech rumors and misconceptions that fooled us in the early 2000s.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The 2000s were full of tech myths, from internet rumors to wild misunderstandings about gadgets. We believed some pretty strange things. It’s funny how we took them seriously, even when they didn’t make much sense.
1. Cell Phones Could Pop Popcorn
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A viral video claimed that putting phones together could heat kernels. People were convinced radiation was cooking them.
2. More Megapixels Meant Better Cameras
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Back then, everyone thought higher megapixels equaled perfect photos. In reality, lens quality mattered more. Marketing simply took advantage of the numbers game.
3. Macs Couldn’t Get Viruses
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Apple users bragged about being immune to malware. The truth was that Macs just weren’t as popular, so hackers targeted Windows.
4. Using Your Phone at a Gas Pump Could Cause Explosions
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Warnings at gas stations terrified drivers. However, there was no evidence that a cell phone could ignite fuel vapors. It became one of the longest-running urban legends.
5. Shutting Down Your Computer Wore It Out
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Many believed turning off your PC too often would damage it. In truth, powering down was good for energy saving. The myth made people leave their machines running nonstop.
6. Blu-ray Would Kill DVDs Instantly
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When Blu-ray discs arrived, people thought DVDs would disappear overnight. Instead, DVDs stayed around for years.
7. Internet Explorer Was the Only Safe Browser
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Since it came with Windows, many assumed it was the most reliable. In reality, it was full of vulnerabilities. Alternative browsers quickly outshone it.
8. Charging Overnight Ruined Your Battery
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Everyone worried that leaving a phone plugged in overnight would destroy the battery. Modern devices actually stop charging once they’re full.
9. Water Damage Could Be Fixed with Rice
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The “put it in rice” trick became universal advice. While it sometimes helped, it wasn’t a miracle cure. Proper drying methods worked much better.
10. More RAM Automatically Made Computers Faster
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Buying extra memory was thought to be the ultimate fix for slow PCs. While it helped in some cases, other issues often slowed things down.
11. You Could Get Free iPods by Clicking Ads
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Pop-up banners promised free gadgets for simple tasks. In reality, they were scams loaded with spam. Many learned the hard way that nothing online is truly free.
12. CDs Could Shatter in Drives
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Rumors spread that high-speed disc drives could explode CDs inside. While rare, it wasn’t something the average user ever experienced.
13. Covering Your Webcam Was Paranoid
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Back then, covering webcams with tape looked silly. Today, it’s a common security precaution. That “paranoid” behavior aged surprisingly well.
14. Text Messages Cost Carriers Almost Nothing
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Many believed texting fees were pure profit for phone companies. That wasn’t far from the truth. But at the time, we accepted sky-high SMS charges without question.
15. Private Browsing Made You Completely Invisible Online
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People assumed incognito mode erased all traces. In reality, it just hid activity from your local device. Internet providers and websites could still track you.