Growing Up Without Internet | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Growing Up Without Internet

It wasn't nearly as bad as you'd think, but I definitely don't want to go back

187
Growing Up Without Internet
David McEachan

The internet is a large part of daily life but even 21 years ago, it wasn't that important or that popular. Growing up in the 2000's meant that the internet was becoming more interesting and used more by people for fun and games rather than work or research. I didn't grow up with access to the internet, and never really used it until middle school, for several reasons.

My parents decided early on in their marriage to get rid of cable television, for their own reasons, and then decided against getting internet at home when it became available and affordable. Their reasoning was the same as those to get rid of cable along wih the fact that it was still a relatively new idea to have internet at home.

Instead of growing up playing games like Barbie dress up or the Sims or even being on MySpace, my family did a lot of things as a family. Our house was one that watched a lot of kids' movies and played board games, Mario Kart, or read many books that we either owned or borrowed from the library. We had a desktop computer that I could use for writing papers, playing games like spider solitaire, pinball or minesweeper and making pictures on Paint. The internet was something that I never really envied having until I had to start doing research papers for school.

The year my parents got smart phones, the year we got hotspots and a data plan changed the way our family worked. My mother joined Facebook, actually started using it quite a bit, and then let me make one. She was okay with getting on the internet for social media but was still worried about us being safe.

When my sister and I got smart phones, the data plan was enlarged and I was able to check out the things that I had always been curious about. YouTube was awesome and the discoveries of so many new artists and music genres that I had never listened to before.

Then, as I was just turning 18, my parents decided to get internet at home to "make it easier to not go over the data limit" as we so often came close to doing. That change seemed almost too late and yeah, I was a little salty about it being so close to my high school graduation when I wouldn't need it as much because I was going to be away at college.

Life at home changed in the last couple years as well. My dad loves his amazon prime account and the option to get Walmart to send their items directly to your house. The only time we go into the store is to get groceries that can't be shipped or things to pickup from Walmart that my dad purchased on the app. I've found myself using the internet so often, even for really mundane things like looking up definitions or schedules for movies and it reminds of the times when I would have had to find a dictionary or go to the mall and hope that the movie I wanted to see was playing soon.

Even now, the way I'm writing this article is a use of the internet I never thought I would actually be using. I've never thought of the internet as bad, but I've started to notice the impact it's had on society. Especially the way society clings onto the ease of access to any and all information available. It's becoming more of a bad thing to not have the ability to get onto the internet at any given time than to be distracted by receiving every possible notification or news whether it was relevant or not.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180614
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7588
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452756
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23450
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments