The ’90s hold a special place in people’s hearts, and many cultural trends from that time remain prevalent today. For one, fashion statements like grunge-era flannel shirts and mid-rise jeans for women have made a comeback.
Interior design trends from the 1990s are also back. Many people have incorporated metal fixtures and oak cabinets that were popular during the decade but have tweaked them to fit 2024 standards.
Some TV shows from back then are still popular among today’s younger audiences. Lecturer Dr. Renee Middlemost explained why in an interview with the University of Wollongong, Australia.
“Why the internet generation wants to watch reruns of Friends and Seinfeld I think goes back to the nostalgia of things - when you’re feeling dark about the world you go back to the things that make you feel better.”
But apart from returning to a time that made you feel better, psychology professor Dr. Krystine Batcho also noted that nostalgia is about celebrating the good times.
“It’s just that you can feel nostalgia more intensely during more dramatic parts of your life, like when you’re undergoing some sort of transformation, transition or decision making,” she explained in an interview with Bustle.
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Dr. Batcho adds that looking back to a simpler time doesn’t necessarily mean you want to turn back the clock. Instead, it’s about refreshing ourselves with fond memories.
“When people want to remember who they were, it would be socially unacceptable to carry an old teddy bear or Barbie doll around with you.
“So a TV reboot serves as a nostalgic trigger that’s socially acceptable and not childish. It’s a recognition that it’s not about going back to the way things were, but updating the past and making it new again.”
Millennials experienced a transitional period in the ’90s, with many moving from childhood to teenage years. According to College of Charleston psychology professor Dr. Chelsea Reid, the memories of an innocent period in their lives allow people within this age group a smoother passage.
“Transitions can be stressful, and nostalgia is a resource for the self, so [these shows are] one way to cope and adjust to those changes,” Dr. Reid said in the same Bustle interview.
The ’90s also saw a time when the world didn’t rely on digital technology. The internet was in its infancy and more about enjoying new innovations than anything else.
“The 90s were the last period where the internet was more of a fun toy that we used to find music and videos,” existential psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge told the BBC. “Reminiscing about the 90s and 00s is comforting because it gives us connection to times in our lives where we felt more free, adventurous and connected to other people.”
