Around here we’ve spent a great deal of time detailing generational tendencies. When it comes to nostalgia for their long-gone childhood years, Gen Y is notorious for living in the past, while Millennials are notorious for consigning anything from the before time to the memory hole.
But recently, a new development has been brought to my attention: online millennial nostalgia.
Related: Nostalgia in Light of Generation Theory
Thanks to author JD Cown for pointing me toward this video:
Granted, about half the objects of nostalgia showcased in that video pertain to the 80s or early 90s, and therefore Gen Y.
But others do indeed hail from the formative years of Millennials. And it’s no accident that an outsized number of those fondly remembered touchstones existed not in real life, but online.
Related: The Nostalgia Jukebox Effect
By combining objects of Gen Y and Millennial nostalgia in one video, we immediately get a sense of contrast that helps further delineate the two generations.
To break it down for you, here are the occasions of nostalgia by generation:
Y
- Pellet Ice
- Classic Pizza Hut
- Mac Tonight
Millennial
- AOL
- Peak YouTube
- Original iMac
Comparing both lists, the Last Analog Generation vs First Digital Generation dichotomy really comes through.
The fact that Millennials are getting nostalgic about anything at all is a development that bears watching, though. Chances are, it’s either a good sign or horribly bad.
Weird how so much of Gen Y nostalgia revolves around food.
We may have to look into what that means.
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