A few months ago, I met with an old school friend for tea. She had come down to Sri Lanka on holiday and figured it was the perfect time for us to finally catch up and I, despite being a social hermit, happily obliged. 

At some point during our gal pal date, it dawned on us that the last time we had spoken to each other face to face was at our high school graduation, which was at least 7 years ago. 

We sat there for a minute, mortified and wondering, where did all that time go? For days, my mind kept recollecting our memories, reminiscing about the food and laughs we shared, endless chats about our celebrity crushes and most importantly, the sweetness of being carefree.

This has been a universal question that many of us have asked ourselves and each other at some point. However, it is one that is constantly in the young minds of Gen Z as they now face the reality of grappling with adulthood and in 2025, watch the dawn of a new generation, Generation Beta.

It still feels like yesterday that we were the new kids on the block, getting our parades rained on by Millennials for coming up with absurd internet slangs or being called “entitled” by our Boomer relatives and generally being misunderstood. 

Now, a large portion of us find ourselves indulging in our childhood memories that are littered with wholesome cartoons playing on the television after school, throwing tantrums over video games or toys and exchanging friendship bracelets that carry a sacred bond. 

All because they remind us of when times were simple - when our only real worry was showing our (pretty bad) report card to our parents and wondering what we’d be getting for our birthday. 

This isn’t to say that any other generation before us hasn’t felt nostalgic for their own times. Occasionally, we still hear stories from our elders that start with a classic “back in my day..” and have it round up with them singing an olden goldie. But, it is safe to say that we may be the most nostalgic generation yet.

Statistics show that 40% of Gen Z yearns for eras they never lived through, while an overwhelming 70% regularly consumes media from earlier decades, particularly from the ‘90s following through to the 2000’s.

So, what is it about these eras that captivate Gen Z, and how are they bringing elements of the past back to life?

Fashion

Skinny jeans out, low rise jeans in! With an aim to buy less and thrift more, most Gen Z’s are eager to find a middle ground between being sustainable as well as bringing back styles from the early 2000s, meaning more bling, bold belts and yes, even the iconic shiny eyeshadow. 

“I remember the days when I’d see almost every girl my age, including myself, wearing a cute t-shirt, a miniskirt and matching leggings. This was my outfit at least 4 days of the week and even though it may seem tacky now, that was the style back then. I’d be really happy if I saw little girls wearing these again! Hopefully they don’t forget colourful butterfly clips to finish the look.” Mariam, 22

TV shows and movies

Rewatching TV shows and movies that specifically portray what life was like in the late ‘90s and early 2000s is a common hobby among Gen Z’s. How many of us rush to the plethora of online quizzes to find out “which Stranger Things character are you?” to cope with the withdrawals of binge watching the show? There are various hour long video essays curated by young people dissecting their favourite Harry Potter movie or dedicating social media profiles to posting edits or fanart from Avatar: the Last Airbender. To us, there is nothing like falling asleep to our comfort show or movie, whether it’s to do with dainty princesses or futuristic spies. 

“It’s something that hasn’t changed since I was 8. Bad day? I put on comfy clothes, get in bed with biscuits and milk tea, and entertain myself with a few episodes of Tom and Jerry. It never fails to make me smile and I instantly feel like a kid again.”  Sandra, 23

Video games

It may be time to dig up your old (and perhaps, broken) Nintendo DS because retro games are now resurging, with videos carrying the hashtag #retrogaming gaining 9 billion overall views on TikTok. Gen Z are turning to games from their childhood as opposed to modern games as they feel that they are more enjoyable.

With older art styles and bouncy soundtracks, many have expressed how it lends them a sense of optimism and genuine victory, in comparison to the hyper realistic graphics and quick gameplay presented by newer games. To the outsider, it may seem like a step back as newer generations are captivated by games with technological limitations such as Tamagotchis and Mario Kart. However, in a world drained by constant evolution, we find ourselves finding comfort in the simple things as a form of escapism. 

“I know it may seem confusing — at a time when humans are at their most advanced in terms of gaming hardware and software, why do I keep going back to the same old games I played when I was a child? It makes more sense if you look at how modern gaming is tainted by corporate greed. Nothing feels authentic anymore and it’s all a cash grab to manipulate little kids and funnily, adults too. There’s a certain charm to an older game that I fear a modern game will never really meet. And until that’s proven otherwise, I’ll be happy playing something as simple as Mortal Kombat.” Nathan, 25

Technology

Say hello once more to flip phones and digital cameras! As surprising as it may sound, the youth of Gen Z are starting to opt for gadgets that could only have meant social status suicide just a couple years ago if you were caught using them. Similar to older gaming gadgets regaining popularity due to their simplicity and nostalgia, these items are seeing the light of day again, particularly being marketed as “vintage”. Other subtle signs are the filters being used on photos posted on social media to make them look “retro”, as if they were taken on a polaroid or disposable camera. 

In an era where design trends are leaning towards minimalism and predictability, younger generations are seeking a more vibrant and engaging aesthetic. They desire designs that evoke a sense of comfort and home. For Gen Z, this nostalgia is embodied in Frutiger Aero — a graphic design style that flourished in the digital landscape from 2004 to the early 2010s. Remember those desktop wallpapers that showcased lush green fields, clear blue skies, and whimsical bubbles, all radiating a sense of futuristic optimism? Our smartphone icons were shiny, colorful, and mimicked realistic 3D objects, like a TV icon for the YouTube app, reflecting the early days of integrating modern technology into our daily lives. Now, with the aim to revive this aesthetic, young people are transforming their phone home screens with skeuomorphic app icons and Frutiger Aero visuals with the help of widgets, to bask in the comforting nostalgia it brings.

While we all aspire to mature and develop, letting go of our childhood can be a challenging part of embracing adulthood. Our teenage years and 20’s are riddled with significant milestones, be it graduating school, pursuing higher education, starting our first job, or even entering our first serious relationship. This period can be quite turbulent, and the experiences we go through during this time can deeply shape our identity. This is where nostalgia often serves as a comforting way to navigate and reflect on these heavy emotions and experiences.

This isn't exclusive to our generation, but it's essential to recognize that times have changed. Today, we encounter a vast amount of online content daily, crafted to evoke strong emotions and capture our attention quickly. With the internet and social media at our fingertips, it's easy to stumble upon a YouTube short that features a scene from our beloved childhood TV show, instantly taking us down memory lane. We have online communities that unite fans from around the globe, allowing us to discuss our favorite characters by lamenting their unjust deaths or debating their romantic choices. It's dramatic, it's trivial, and above all, it's incredibly enjoyable.

To my fellow Gen Z’s, there is no shame in indulging in your childhood interests as you embark on this challenging journey to adulthood. It doesn’t make you immature, and you don’t have to mask it by calling it a “guilty pleasure”. Taking us away momentarily from life’s bigger problems, whether that’s feeling down about the plummeting economy, fragile environment, or uncertain future, it’s comforting to know that we would always carry a piece of the past with us that would bring us a sense of safety and solace - and this will always remain yours, to cherish.