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    'Babysitting the kids across the street at age 10': 21 things that were acceptable in the 90s, but not today

    The past becomes a foreign country a lot faster than you might expect.

    It is a well-worn cliche at this point that the older you get, the more time seems to race, and those who have to be feeling pretty intensely in this current moment are those who define themselves as 90s kids. The last decade before the new millennium is traveling further and further from us with every passing day. Heck, the oldest Gen Z will soon be turning 30, and they didn't start to exist until the late 90s. Having a birth date that starts with 19 is a true mark of antiquity at this point.

    Considering how far away the 1990s are on the timeline, it should probably not come as a surprise that many of the things that were normal back then are looked at it a completely different light now. Society can change faster than we give it credit for, in ways both positive and negative. While some like to say that people don't change, the way that the world progresses makes it kind of inevitable that most adjust at least a little bit if they stick around for long enough. They can't help but be influenced by the times.

    Author image for Ally Perry Ally Perry
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      via Nik (Unsplash+)

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    • One of the most telltale signs that you are getting older is when you look back on the way that things were in your childhood or early adulthood, and it feels like a totally different universe from the one that we are living in now. Depending on perspective, sometimes it is a good thing that certain practices are a relic of the past, and other times, it is sad to see that mainstream culture has changed so much in this direction. 

      Even for the stuff that is probably best resigned to history, it is not uncommon to feel a certain sense of nostalgia. It is amazing how much can change in under half a century, and for those who feel like the 90s could not possibly have ended more than ten years ago, it is all the more mind-blowing. 

    • What was socially acceptable in the 1990s but not in 2026?

      Klutzy-Sky8989 At age 10, babysitting the kids across the street (in a blue collar / white collar neighborhood)
      via Klutzy-Sky8989
    • TerryScarchuk Knocking on the door of a random house miles away from your own and asking to use their land line to call your mom, because you lost track of time and it got dark.
      via TerryScarchuk
    • IJourden Having no damn idea where your kids were.
      via IJourden
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    • Few_Step 7444 Leaving notes for people you live with or expecting. If you're waiting for someone to visit but have to quickly go buy milk, you would leave a note on your door, "Dear Michelle, I left at 12.25 to buy milk, I will be back at 12.40, don't leave!" Or on your table for your family, "I've gone to Robbie's be back at 7, the cat is outside"
      via Few_Step_7444
    • Zip-it999 Just calling people a lot to talk to them. No texts. No scheduling. Like call them and expect them to answer on their landline.
      via Zip-it999
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    • MissBanana Maybe this has already been said and I didn't scroll down far enough, but leaving your kids in the car while you went grocery shopping. Obviously it was only done when the weather allowed, but my brothers and I were left in the car several times a week while my mom went into the store without us.
      via MissBanana_
    • Live-Medium8357 Not being reachable. I mean, thankfully the people I know are okay with hours between texts, etc but I get the impression that most people these days expect instant replies.
      via Live-Medium8357
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    • slug327 Showing up at someone's house unannounced to hang out.
      via slug327
    • Christwriter Going all the way to the terminal to see your friends off to their plane.
      via Christwriter
    • leonprimrose smoking in a restaurant
      via leonprimrose
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    • emerald447 TV shows with 9 seasons, 22 episodes each.
      via emerald447
    • SirCooks TooMuch mooning people
      via SirCooksTooMuch
    • itssarahw Answering the phone without any clue who is on the other end
      via itssarahw
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    • smallest table Bill Cosby.
      via smallest_table
    • j_k_802 Speakerphone was a novelty and you would be higher status. Now, every moron yells at their phone and holds the speaker phone next to ear sideways. Why not use the thing as a phone? Do we need PSA's everywhere on this?
      via j_k_802
    • Quixodyssey Authenticity. The idea of criticizing people for selling out now just seems so quaint. And it was the no-no of the 90s.
      via Quixodyssey
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    • Careless_Flatworm317 Being able to enjoy something without recording a video of it.
      via Careless_Flatworm317
    • stomachpancakes Throwing a friend into the pool used to be a fun light-hearted prank until everyone had a cell phone in their pocket.
      via stomachpancakes
    • mastaquake Writing letters. Also cursive.
      via mastaquake
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    • divaro98 Good question. Maybe smiling to people here in Belgium. When I grew up in the early 2000s, it was ok to smile to strangers (e.g. in a supermarket). Now... they look at you if you are a crazy person. I find that a sad evolution.
      via divaro98
    • IJourden Tipping 10%.
      via IJourden

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    1990s history nostalgia 90s kids 90s 2025 normal
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