16 Old-School Struggles Today’s Kids Will Never Understand

This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no cost to you. As always, I only recommend links I personally use and love!

In the age of instant messaging, cloud storage, and AI assistants, it’s easy to forget the tech hurdles we all once faced. From the screeching of dial-up internet to the fine art of creating the perfect mixtape, the past had its fair share of challenges. Let’s revisit some old-school tech struggles that today’s kids won’t even have to worry about.

Finding a Payphone

Before cell phones, if you were out and needed to make a call, you had to hunt for a payphone. And then, there was the challenge of having the right change!

Rewinding VHS Tapes

Be kind, rewind. It was a courtesy to the next viewer, but also a tedious task, especially if you forgot and had to rewind the entire movie.

Getting Film Developed

The anticipation of waiting days to see if your photos turned out, only to discover half of them were overexposed or blurry.

Dial-Up Internet Sounds

The screeching sound of connecting to the internet and the frustration when someone picked up the landline, disconnecting you.

Using a Map for Directions

Before GPS, you had to plot your route on a physical map, and if you got lost, you had to figure it out the old-fashioned way.

Changing the Channel Without a Remote

Getting up every time to switch between the limited number of channels available.

Busy Signals

Before call waiting, if someone was on the phone, you’d hear the dreaded busy signal and had to keep trying until the line was free.

Typewriter Mistakes

One wrong key and you’d have to start all over or try to correct it with messy correction fluid.

Limited Entertainment Choices

Having only a few TV channels and having to adjust the rabbit ears antenna for a clearer picture.

Mixtapes

Spending hours curating and recording the perfect mixtape for a friend or loved one.

Phone Books

Flipping through hundreds of pages to find a phone number or address.

Encyclopedias

Before Google, these hefty volumes were the go-to for research and general knowledge.

Floppy Disks

Limited storage and easily corrupted, yet they were the primary means of saving and transferring data.

Overdue Library Books

Before digital libraries, you had to remember to return physical books on time or face fines.

Blowing on Video Game Cartridges

Blowing was the universal “fix” when your game wasn’t working properly.

Recording TV Shows with VCRs

Setting the timer, making sure you had a blank tape, and hoping no one would change the channel while you were recording.

15 Forgotten Etiquette Rules We’re Glad Stayed in the Past

15 Forgotten Etiquette Rules We’re Glad Stayed in the Past

13 Weird Ways Animals React Before a Hurricane Strikes

13 Weird Ways Animals React Before a Hurricane Strikes

12 Theories on Why We Haven’t Met Any Aliens Yet

12 Theories on Why We Haven’t Met Any Aliens Yet