In 1999, I was five years old, just old enough to sense the weight of the approaching millennium, but too young to grasp its full significance. The world buzzed with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. I was told that the Y2K bug would bring the collapse of modern society, that the internet would change everything, and that we were standing on the cusp of something unimaginable.
At the time, these were just abstract ideas, vague words with no clear meaning. Now, as I approach my thirties, the world I once knew feels distant, transformed in ways I could never have predicted. Looking back over the past 25 years, it’s impossible not to marvel at the dramatic changes, how technology has reshaped our daily lives, how social norms have shifted, and how the very idea of progress has evolved. This journey, both personal and global, reflects not only how far we’ve come but also how much the world has changed.
Growing up in Mexico City, I had a front-row seat to the rapid spread of technology and its profound impact. The city’s sprawling urban landscape and its population, dependent on connectivity, made technology’s influence especially pronounced.
The shift from the pre-internet world to the digital age was not a mere ripple, it was a tidal wave. In the late 90s, the internet was still a novelty. It came with dial-up connections, the screeching sound of modems, and AOL CDs that seemed to arrive in every mailbox. Each connection was a small thrill, a moment of anticipation as the modem slowly linked us to the world. It was frustratingly slow, but it was exhilarating nonetheless.
I never imagined that, in just a few years, this clunky, fragmented tool would evolve into the omnipresent force that now shapes our lives. As we approach 2025, the internet is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Social media, streaming, e-commerce, and remote work have become integral to how we live, interact, and work. The thought of being disconnected from the web is almost unthinkable. It is not just a place for information or socializing; it is a portal through which we access everything.
The early 2000s also saw the rise of mobile phones, a revolution I remember vividly. My family’s first cell phone wasn’t a smartphone, but it was a game-changer. It allowed us to stay connected like never before. Over time, constant connectivity became the new normal. In a city like Mexico City, where traffic is chaotic and distances vast, the ability to call, text, or check information on the go became indispensable.
As a child, I recall the simple pleasure of watching television shows, eagerly awaiting the next episode of Dragon Ball Z or The Simpsons. There was no option to pause, rewind, or stream. If I missed an episode, I had to wait for reruns.
The era of scheduled television was still alive. The early 2000s introduced digital cable and DVDs, but we were far from the age of on-demand entertainment. Now, we live in a TikTok era, where consumption is instantaneous, and the concept of endlessly scrolling through content is second nature. The idea of binge-watching was barely a whisper in 1999, but now entire seasons of shows are released all at once, encouraging us to consume them in one sitting. Our relationship with entertainment has fundamentally shifted, from savoring anticipation to devouring content until we’re overwhelmed.
Beyond entertainment, the environmental crisis that seemed distant in the 90s has become a daily reality. As a child, I didn’t worry much about the planet. I lived in a world of suburban streets and quiet parks, unaware of the looming environmental challenges. But over the past 25 years, we’ve felt climate change’s effects more acutely. The consequences of unchecked industrial growth, once abstract, are now undeniable: the world is hotter, the air more polluted, and natural disasters have become more frequent and severe.
Despite this grim reality, there’s a growing sense of urgency and responsibility. The past quarter-century has seen the rise of environmental movements, from sustainability efforts to calls for a Green New Deal. While the battle for a greener future is far from over, there’s a palpable shift. We’ve moved from denial to action, and climate change awareness is no longer on society’s fringes.
Politically, the world has changed dramatically. In 1999, the Cold War was still a recent memory, and the United States stood as the world’s sole superpower. But the events of September 11, 2001, shattered for a day American society. The attacks reshaped global geopolitics, launching the War on Terror and marking the rise of new powers, particularly China. The unipolar world of the 90s feels like a distant memory.
The internet, for all its promises of connection, has also deepened divisions. Social media, once seen as a democratizing force, now amplifies polarization. Platforms designed to connect us have instead fueled division. We’re more interconnected than ever, yet paradoxically, more isolated. Echo chambers and misinformation thrive, while common ground seems increasingly elusive.
Social change, too, has accelerated. In 1999, civil rights, gender equality, and social justice were important, but not the cultural forces they are today. The civil rights movements of the 20th century were fresh in memory, but the activism of today, the #MeToo movement, Black Lives Matter, would have seemed unimaginable back then. These issues are no longer peripheral; they are central to our conversations about power, privilege, and justice. While progress has been made, resistance to change has grown louder.
In entertainment, the past 25 years have witnessed a revolution. I grew up with CDs, VHS tapes, and bulky gaming consoles. The switch to digital formats in the 2000s was just the beginning. Today, media is no longer owned—it’s streamed and shared. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have democratized culture, allowing anyone with a phone to create and share. The entertainment landscape, once dominated by Hollywood, is now diverse and decentralized. Representation is no longer a buzzword; it’s a priority.
Despite all the changes, part of me feels nostalgic for the simplicity of my childhood. The world of 1999 feels so distant from today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected reality. I miss the days when the internet wasn’t omnipresent, when media consumption wasn’t controlled by algorithms, and when I could watch a show without being interrupted by notifications. But nostalgia, I know, is a trap. The world has changed, and with it, new possibilities have emerged. The past 25 years have been a whirlwind, but they’ve also opened up new opportunities to connect, create, and challenge the world around us.
Time moves forward, and so must we. The past 25 years have reshaped everything, from communication to environmental awareness, from media consumption to our understanding of power and justice. The world is more connected yet more divided than ever. The future remains unwritten, but the lessons of the past remind us that change is inevitable. The next 25 years will bring new challenges, technologies, and questions. But amid uncertainty, one thing is clear: the future is full of possibility. The next chapter is waiting to be written, and it’s up to us to decide what kind of world we want to create.
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This article was originally published by The South Alabamian – Deep South Media Group. © 2024 Deep South Media Group. All rights reserved.
Eduardo Magaña 
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