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Today, the internet and social media are indispensable parts of our lives.
They have sped up communication, made information more accessible and made entertainment ubiquitous. But with these advances, we have also lost some of the little things that made everyday life more personal and tangible.
Many of the old habits and traditions that brought us closer together have disappeared in the wake of the digitalization of our lives.
Before the internet became commonplace, everything was a little simpler—and perhaps a little better.
Letters were written by hand, social gatherings took place face-to-face, and the joy of little things like picking up developed photos or navigating with a map was part of everyday life.
It was a time when waiting and physical contact played a central role, and technology did not constantly distract from the present.
Socializing without technology
Before the spread of the Internet, people spent their free time reading, writing, listening to music, going to the movies, or spending time with family and friends without digital distractions.
This form of interaction led to closer social ties and more personal contact.
Writing letters
Although most households had a landline phone in the early days of the Internet, writing letters for various purposes was often necessary.
A handwritten letter was a formal and thoughtful form of communication that conveyed something personal and meaningful to the recipient.
Keeping an eye on the time
People had to manually set their clocks and alarms when daylight saving time began or ended.
This required attention and precision and, at the same time,e made people more aware of time changes and their impact on everyday life.
Using maps for navigation
Before GPS became the standard, people used paper maps and had to ask passers-by for directions if they got lost.
This method made travelling more adventurous and required thorough planning as routes had to be mapped out in advance.
Getting photos developed
Taking photos was a lengthy process: the film had to be developed in specialist stores before the images could be enjoyed or shared in physical photo albums.
The wait brought excitement and joy when the photos were unveiled.
Waiting for your favorite show
Before streaming services, people would sit anxiously in front of the TV, waiting for their favorite show to air at a certain time.
This routine created a shared experience that often brought the whole family together.
Buying music
To get hold of the latest albums, people would go to stores and buy them on CDs or cassettes.
The process of finding the right release and taking it home added a special value and joy to the music.
Playing outside
It was natural for children to play outside with friends without anyone asking them to put down a screen.
This type of play encouraged social skills and creativity through physical activity.
Memorizing phone numbers
There were three methods of memorizing phone numbers: committing them to memory, writing them down in an address book, or looking them up in the phone book.
This practice requires good memory and makes people aware of their social network.
Creating mixtapes
It was popular to burn CDs and create personal mixtapes to give to friends or a loved one.
These mixtapes were often put together carefully and contained songs with special meaning.
Overcoming conflicts
Unlike today’s internet trolls who comment anonymously online, disagreements occur face-to-face.
This required courage and the ability to argue directly, often leading to more constructive conversations.
Finding rare collectibles
Before Amazon was available, collectors had to call stores or search ads for rare items.
This required a lot of effort, but it was especially satisfying when you finally found what you were looking for.
Writing long assignments
Writing a 10,000-word assignment by hand was a demanding task that required patience and perseverance.
It also meant carefully planning time and effort to achieve the goal.
Independence from surveillance
Before social media, many people felt they had more freedom as their actions were not constantly being judged or shared online.
They could act spontaneously without worrying about likes, comments, or shares.
- source: dagens.de/picture: Image by Дмитрий Макаров from Pixabay
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