If I told my daughter there were no tablets, smartphones, YouTube, or the Internet when I was 18, she would not believe me.
Today, in 2025, the Internet is standard. Everyone has access to it and utilizes it. Take a journey with me to learn what we did before the Internet.
Born in the 1970s
I grew up in the 1970s and 80s, graduated from high school in 1989, and graduated from university four years later. The Internet arrived sometime between 1994 and 1995 while I was in graduate school.
I remember using interlibrary loans to obtain the information I needed for my thesis. I rarely used the Internet because it was new—adapting to change is hard—so I did most of my work the old-fashioned way, as did most people during that time.
In the absence of having the Internet, I remember the following:
- Writing letters and sending cards. I usually grabbed a pen and a few sheets of notebook paper to write a letter—everyone did it, and that’s how we communicated with friends and family. However, today, I cannot remember the last time I wrote a letter. I will start handwriting letters in 2025, especially since I am learning Spencerian cursive handwriting. I want to show off my elegant penmanship.
- Talking on the phone. Whenever someone was in my thoughts, I would dial their number to say hello. The person on the other end of the call would never hesitate to thank me for calling because they were having a bad day, and talking to me made them feel better. Today, we have smartphones, but some do not use phones for talking; instead, we text.
- Spending time with family and friends. We would play games, dance, sing, laugh, eat, and enjoy good company at social gatherings. I recall being at a cookout a few years ago, sitting at the dining room table chatting with my uncle about various topics. I had the best time laughing and cutting up with him. I cherish the times I had with him because a few months ago, he passed away. We must make time for those special people in our lives. The Internet can never replace human experience, interaction, and connection.
- Being out and about. We went out more and were not locked up in our homes staring at digital devices. Even when I entered the workforce after graduate school, I was not one to use the Internet; instead, I was out doing things. I would go to the library, book store, park, church, mall, and many other places. It is where I met people and made friends. I even met my husband while I was working my part-time evening job. I doubt I would have met him if I had been couped up in my apartment after working my 9-5 staring at a screen. I need to do better by being out and about in my community.
- Socializing in person. I socialized more in person with others when there was no internet. I recall having friends in my teens and early adulthood. We did fun activities together, and I felt a sense of community and friendship with them. As I write this, I have fond memories of my friends. One of my high school friends loaned me a dress for the talent show – I won third place. 😁
Socialization is essential, but it is lacking today. Although we have social media sites, social media is not a place for socializing; in my experience, it makes us less sociable.
Final Words
I could share more, but I will stop here. I have wonderful memories of what I did before the Internet.
It is amazing how things that were common to do before the Internet, like writing a letter by hand, have become almost non-existent in 2025.
Do you remember life before the Internet? Please share by commenting below.
Pam says
Hi Evelyn,
It is good to have you back on your blog.
Yes, I totally agree with you! We lived our best lives before the internet.
I was just talking on the phone with my sister the other day. We discussed the same issue of not making the time to visit each other like we used to.
This year I plan to be more intentional about spending more time with family and reconnecting with old friends.