Life Before The Internet Changed Us! 

I miss the old days! The internet made society isolated and antisocial. Nobody interacts with one another.

So glad I grew up when there was no internet.

Life before the internet and social media was so much better than today.

Social media makes us anti-social.

In short, people actually went out and DID things and lived life to the fullest.

social media has destroyed generations of kids

I miss the pre internet world.

I'll take pre internet over today anytime. People can't communicate without their cellphone doing it for them.

Don't forget the 2 hour monopoly game that ended with a fight and all the pieces on the floor.

The internet has not brought us together, it has torn us apart.

I still maintain life was much easier back in the day. You never miss what you never had. Thank you for the walk down memory lane!

The internet has killed social interactions. Yes it's made life easier but has isolated us all. Period

I miss the 80’s and 90’s. Life certainly was way more simple and people in general seemed happier before the rise of the Internet. Alohas everyone and have a blessed day.

As a child of the ‘80s (born in 75) I love my memories of growing up pre-internet. While I do enjoy modern conveniences, I mourn that my kids couldn’t grow up in a simpler time, where home was the only “safe space “ needed, where predators had to come through dad at the door (possibly armed), not a firewall on your network. Where bullies could be faced and dealt with on the playground and not online behind anonymity with the power to destroy lives. Where the scrapes and bruises from climbing trees and riding bikes were considered character building and didn’t cause parents to panic because they read a horrifying post on social media. This is a great post. We live in exciting times but I am grateful for growing up in era of shopping malls and Saturday morning cartoons.

Watching this makes me realize how old I am 😂 Sure do miss the simpler times.

Remember the excitement of answering the phone without knowing who it was? Looking out the front door to see your friends' bikes to see where we were hanging out? Walking to school with your friends, no moms? Those long summer days exploring the woods? In the winter, taking your sledder, finding a hill and slide down it until it was getting dark, knowing all the while, mom had hot soup for you? I'm stopping now because I'm getting teary eyed. Hope I brought some good memories back. It was good to be a kid in the '60s😊

Life WAS just better all the way around.

Libraries were an adventure. You had to look up a book in the card catalog which had cards for subject author or title. Cars for similar and so they were easier to do our own self-maintenance. Life was better in the 70s in a lot of ways. When we took family trips us kids would sit in the front seat with a map and we would navigate for whoever was driving.

Ah when friends were people you actually knew and hung out with 😂

The price paid for today's "Convenience" was criminally high.

Being an introvert, I appreciate the modern conveniences like online ordering. However, being born in 1970, I would go back in a minute!

My god what i wouldn’t give for a time machine!!

I guess all times have their good points and bad points, but I do miss growing up in the very late 70s and 80s. It was a magical time of good movies, personal interactions, Saturday morning cartoons, comics/books, and having ACTUAL friends. But what I miss the most is people's level of tolerance for each other, other cultures, delays, inconveniences, and not having things. It was OK to be different.

Born in 59 without cell, beeper or internet, life was hard then, but I would go back in a heart beat. Still don't have a computer at home 😆.

Alot of kids wouldn't know how to live without the internet or smartphones if they went back in time 50 to 60 years. Not to mention even just 25 to 30 years ago

I was born in 1961, before the internet we played outside with our friends the time. I read a lot and still do. We used the landline phone to set up a group of kids to meet and play and ride our bikes on adventures. Best times for kids to grow up in.

This made my day! I thought of comedian Karen Morgan and her take on different generations. I'm a Gen Xer and when you brought up writing letters and mailing them I thought about what she said. Remember this was said in good fun, Gen Z doesn’t know how to write a check. They don’t know how to address an envelope. They don’t know how to read cursive. They don’t know how to read a paper map. They can’t get anywhere unless there’s a GPS map on their phone. She said if Gen Z takes over the world, it’s going to be pretty easy to get it back. "We’re just going to write our battle plans in cursive on a piece of paper. And then mail it to ourselves in envelopes. 😂

Looking back now, life was simpler…. But we made it complicated at times. I still miss the good old days though….

Yup, me and the guys where at the mall, arcades, movies, the food courts, Chinese food, chili dogs, then finished it off with arcades and girls were alot nicer......good times! I'm just glad I was able to live that because it will never happen again 👍🍻👍

While our world is crumbling, I appreciate you sharing childhood memories with a boy from 1975

Growing up before the internet was awesome. I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything.

The only thing that the internet has really succeeded in doing is taking humanity out of being human

So glad I was an 80s kid. Life was so much better. Gen X rules.

I’d go back to 1979 in a heartbeat and do it all over again.

The memories of my grandmother asking me to bring her the telephone book......... I was amazed at how many names were in there! I'd flip through it like it was a novel!😊 Ahhhhh, those were the days.

I would do anything to go back. There was nothing like it!

I miss bookstores. My favorite place in the entire world used to be my localish bookstore. It had a coffee shop inside it, and although I never learned to like coffee, the smell of the books and the flavored coffees was just divine to me. Even now, my favorite candles are coffee scented and I'm that weirdo who still carries a paper book around with me. I've tried getting into reading on eReaders, Kindles and my phone and I just can't do it. I need that smell, feel and the overall sensation of having the physical book. Even now, at almost 40, the first thing I do when I pick up a book is flip through the pages really quickly and smell the paper and ink and glue. I love it.

I miss simply going to a concert, a show, or driving down the road without inconsiderate arses messing with their phones, videoing the show, and running over me as they block the lanes and don't pay attention.

The kids of today will never realize what they missed. I feel sorry for them.

Another change is the way fewer people use cash. Pre-internet, most people still used cash for common inexpensive purchases. They saved credit cards for the more expensive items where cash purchases didn't really fit. But nowadays, thanks to debit cards, PayPal, and Zelle, many people don't even carry cash. They will even charge the simplest purchases like a coffee at a convenience store.

The world was in a better place before the internet!

From the time the Vietnam War ended I think was the best time to be a kid. Time of peace, Saturday morning cartoons, and a toy from each one in a giant toy store, Every holiday was very celebrated in the home and on TV. Didn't have so many choices of music and TV channels, so more people had things in common to talk about. People weren't constantly distracted or occupied with a phone, so hanging at the mall or in front of a store was normal. Instead of sitting home all day gaming, you'd go to an arcade, 7/11, or pizza place to play an arcade game. Kids rode bikes or walked for miles from town to town on a mission without fear of strangers and abductors. People were a bit more mentally stable at the time. No metal detectors or school shootings at that time. MTV and crazy clothes or hair styles. It was way better and I hate that I can't give that childhood to children today. Movies like Stand By Me or Goonies really did depict how kids were. I thought parents were more liberal when parenting, letting kids just be missing all day long, as long as you were home for dinner. Sleepovers, and playing in construction sites, we did it all. Dirt trails to ride BMX bikes and hit jumps was always a cool hangout. I feel so blessed to have lived when I did. Today though 🤮. Nah, can't stand it. I really feel for this generation. They're too delusional to even understand what they missed out on. I pray for them and their safety always. Even though we didn't wear helmets, wandered around all day and night without being monitored or tracked by phone and video, etc. We still managed with a certain safety and security that felt free. Man I miss the 70s & 80s.

Life was better but it's social media (not so much the internet) that has put us in a downward spiral.

I flew a lot in the 70's, 80's, & 90's and never once saw bad behavior. Flying was a wonderful experience and adventure! And no one in pajamas!!!!!

Words cannot describe how I miss game gatherings. I'm introverted, but still this is a part of life that is sorely absent.

The internet made today's population lazy. People actually use there brain to create things and went outside back in the day, I miss those days.

Life was more pleasant in the 1970’s. People were more gracious, laid back, and less stressed.

I was born in 1971 and for me life was better back then.

It was better. People prefer to talk to their smartphones now than other people.

I'm so glad I am Gen X I have gotten to experience so many things in my lifetime

born in the 70's , going through this transition my whole life is brutal....I'm an analog man in a digital world

Internet is ruining society

Yes I'm 62 I miss that great like less stress nicer people😢

The 60’s and 70’s were happy days. Take me back!

I still mail Christmas cards and enjoy receiving them by mail.

I miss my 80's &90's nothing like those years!!! ❤

Definitely miss those days, adults are always talking about it. All though my parents are 70 and there days sound a lot better, I’m 48.

I liked the simple life

Spent 50 years working with the public. Social skills have been on the decline for 25 years. Glad to be retired. Wish you all peace and happiness. Now if you will excuse me I am going outside and enjoy the day.

5:51 that's right! there is NOTHING like a physical book! 📚😍

As a boy growing up in the 70's, all of my neighborhood friends loved competing against each as to who could jump a ramp the furthest with our bikes... And yes, sometimes hospital trips happened... I think those times made me an interesting adult...

I lived 1/2 my life pre-internet. It was a better and simpler time. I wish we could go back to those times.

Before modern technology it was considered bizarre behavior to take a photo of yourself. Narcissistic didn’t even begin to describe what we would think of selfies.

Easier times now with everything at our fingertips but I sure do miss the simpler times. The 70's/80's were the best!❤😊

As an older Gen X'r (Born if 68) I approve this vid. Especially the mix tape. I can't believe how many hours and cassette tapes I took and used making them. American top 40 with Casey Kasem that was the best time to get those songs you wanted without the DJ talking over the start or the end of the song. I still have like a dozen cassette tapes still in a box.

People used to get the newspaper delivered. I was one of those who hopped on my Schwinn every day after school and on weekends to deliver it. If you wanted to read the news you bought a newspaper. And the news was always what happened yesterday. I haven't purchased or even read an actual newspaper in more than 20 years.

Hello I'm a new sub here, and I definitely think the world was a better place before the internet. I feel like the internet has affected a lot of different ways we function as people. I was born in the 2000s and I didn't get my first phone until I turned about 13. It has definitely affected my life, and for about a year or so now I've been trying to do things the old school way. I go shopping in person I only thrift for clothing now, I try and cook a lot, read a lot, and I also go to the movie theaters. By limiting my internet time I have noticed a significant increase in my happiness.

Back in the dark ages 😆 love it !! Convenience is great but the Internet is a love/hate thing for me. Thanks as always !!👍❤️

And it will only get worse because of globalism and AI😞

I miss those days. It's great that we're more "connected than ever", but, at the same time, it also isolates us. Imo, I think kids shouldn't be exposed to the internet until they're at least 18. Have them live life with friends and family, and without the stresses of online harassment. It's difficult, but not impossible.

Rhett, I really enjoyed your video about how the Internet has changed our lives. In some aspects it's changed for the better, but it's made some people lose creativity. I personally still enjoy personal "snail mail," correspondence sending and receiving, too. Have a fantastic weekend. Take care 🐎

Born in 1961, graduated high school in 1979, and I loved my childhood!!! Cannot think of anything that wasn’t fun and enjoyable!!! Never without friends or cousins around!!! Got my own princess phone and own phone number for Christmas in 1975, my Dads used 1971 Chevy Malibu in 1977, life was definitely good!!!!!! Wish time machines were real, I’d go back in a heartbeat!!!!!!

The old days was better. It was so nice in the 70s and early 80s.

I grew up in the 90s, just on the doorstep to the Internet. I'm glad to have experienced the "old world" and I often lament the loss of it. Sure, it has been very exciting to live through the development of public Internet, but to me it's gone too far. In the early days nerds like me would get together for gaming LANs so the social part was still there. I've never been been very social, and nowadays there's zero reason to be, so I often struggle with feelings of loneliness. It's the price we pay for convenience.

Much better times then. When people actually went outside and had a conversation with other people. Going to the mall. We would hang out on a corner and play music and hang out. I sure miss those days. Great video and love your channel.

The big phone book was a large part of our lives, especially the yellow pages when trying to find a product or service. And trying to find your destination was way different too. We all had to learn to read a city map and plan our route.

i'm so glad that i grew up in the 70' s and 80' s!! 💕 the thing about using the encyclopedia or paper map was that you were bound to find something cool that you hadn't been looking for, that you didn't even know existed, and THAT was the adventure. same with being out and about..... you never knew who you might run into. today's world seems much more close minded..... like they only want what they want, and they don't want to experience anything else. i find that incredibly sad. 😔 i would give up the convenience in order to have a sense of community again. 🥀

We gave up too much for the convenience of the Internet. We can live without setting foot outside of the house. Order everything and get it delivered. I wish we could go back to it. I remember when everyone had a large group of friends and we didn't have to have a large or small box ruling their lives.

Born in 2000, but totally agree life before the internet was better and would honestly give anything to have experienced the 80s. Back when people were in control of technology, not the other way around. People actually went out and did things. People were nicer and happier and socially unacceptable behaviour wasn't glorified like it is today. It's really depressing how the internet has changed things. It's got its perks for sure, but I feel like too many good things got sacrificed for it and now we're paying the ultimate price.

Yep the 70s and 80s were the Best of Times. I looked so forward to the new Sears Catalog and JC Penny. I remember that was our guide for new clothes for the school year upcoming, and would look through it dozens of times during the summer. This was back when we had 20 phone numbers memorized in our heads and we went to the libraries and art stores; played outside till the streetlights came on, rode our bikes and skateboards everywhere, and had great, fun television and radio. Going to live concerts almost every month was commonplace. People in the stores were very nice and cordial. We had fun game arcades. Family and Holiday Traditions were very important and teachers actually taught and you had a much more pro-active learning environment. Look at the state of our affairs now. Its like night and day. And not is a good way either. Anyhow, great vid. Its nice to meet another fella that has my same name. Be well Rhett.

I’m 66 and I much prefer today with the internet. I like if I’m talking to someone, and we have a question about something, we can just google it. Or if I need to know something about a medication, I can google that. And since I’m legally blind and have lost a lot of vision, digital books are available for me to read since I can no longer read print books. And that I’ve been able to get in touch with old friends I haven’t seen in decades through Facebook. Information is at the touch of our fingertips. We tend to remember the past for being better than it was.

I was born in December 2nd 1960 so anyone that was born between 1950 to when I was born remembers the 60s 70s and 80s I feel we're the best in every category. So if you were born between those decades you know what I'm talking about. Everything was better back then.

I remember it. You relied heavily on magazines for info, especially for special-interest hobbies like collecting stuff. New metal bands were introduced through tape-copying and sharing. Even Metallica was "discovered" that way. Media in general was more valuable because we didn't have instant access to every movie, TV show, song, and game ever made streaming straight to TV.

Take me back, I actually lived like this. I'm 67 now, and I have been blessed seeing then and now.

I miss my childhood. Life was way better before the internet! We used to play outside, and you don't see that anymore, we had common sense too, and that is long gone. Life was simpler, but life back then had more meaning. I'm so glad I grew up in the 80s born in 1977. Wouldn't change my childhood for anything.

I used to absolutely love doing research from books at the library. I thrived on it. Even at University when we could use the internet…I still went to the library and used books.

We did have mobile games. The hula hoop, roller skates, surfboard, skateboard, and a piece of plastic for sliding down grass hills. The only difference with their mobility, was they were not kept in a glass and metal small, hand held box. But they did go with you wherever you went, either slung over your shoulder or tied to your bike.😊

I still remember my Niece telling me that her new game has better graphics than the last version. I just said to her that Nature has the best graphics It is called " Playing Outside" : )

If I had the chance, I'd go back to the 70's/80's and stay there forever!

The internet has changed many.. I Love the old fashioned interaction. ✨💞✨

Born in 1964, I really miss the kindness people showed each other. We never locked our doors and everyone was welcome.

I have to say I sure miss life in the 70s and 80s.

Yeah, things might be more convenient now, but I think I would rather go back to my childhood days of the late 60's and 70's, even as an adult. We didn't have lots of the things the kids have now, but I really don't remember being bored. Being outside and having an imagination could keep us busy all day. I lived right on the edge of the suburbs and the country, so we had woods, abandoned homesteads and all sorts of things to play in and explore. I certainly didn't have helicopter parents so in the summer I left in the morning and often didn't home until close to supper and then usually back out.

It was a better time. Music was better. People were friendlier. Communicating was more personal. Life was less cluttered with trashy information.

Internet and social media has increased mental health problems.I grew up in 70s miss it so much

I was born in 1984,was 6 when the 90s came around. I loved the 90s. Spent so much time outside and I had a lot of friends that did the same. In fact I still have 6 of the friends I had way back when. We spend 1 hour on the Internet and most of the time we either work or we're out enjoying life. Unlike kids now a days that live their entire lives online.

Rhetty Videos are something I look forward to when the alerts pop. I think people are far more gullible now - since ANYONE can publish falsehoods. One of the biggest changes, in my opinion, is that relationships with others have become more transactional. True connections seem as rare as diamonds these days.

There was nothing like getting a letter from your girl friend who was away for the summer. And as for the use of maps, well theres many roads to travel. Not just the fastest one. All those back roads are really nice.

Grew up in the '60s, '70s. Awesome time!!

Yes, life was much better before the internet. If the zombie apocalypse happens, the one good thing is that we won’t have the internet anymore.