Gen Z and the obsession with 2000s-2013 Era

WARNING:

This post i just show my vision based on things around the world shown, feel free to disagree, but any rude comments or hate in general will be deleted thank you.

And last thing i wanted to say is that English isn't my first language, have patience because i was using translator writing this essay, have a good reading.

   From the reborn of another era after leaving away the 90s being known as the ‘Millenial Era’ With development of technology with DVDs burning with popularization along with MP3 and MP4, Sense of humour especially inside of medias, new fashion styles being born, music and especially the lifestyle with websites and social media becoming a thing as a form to get communicated inside with others.

But those who lived this era were either pre-teens having passagem to teenhood, teenagers or even young adults, but what about those who were born after 90s ended knowing the fact these people who were born in 2000s were just childrens? And when it also involves people who were born in 2009 with the almost ending of this era before 2010s having the same feeling who haven’t experienced well?

I don't wanna be way too nostalgic writing this essay, okay, maybe this post will show my piece of nostalgia of why me being one of those people who experienced this era being born in 2004 also enjoys a lot the aesthetic of what millenials used to experience in 2000s so get ready at putting your security belts because we’re all going to travel back to the era when 90s was left behind.

Well, obviously i was just a child discovering a lot of stuff with privileges like the Gen Z who were born and during this era i still remember when my parents used to bring lots of CD musics (and just saying that since i was born and grew up in Latin America, Brazil, it was pretty common pirated CDs being sold as even the cops would buy these and i was one of these kids who had lots of these disks as well ☠️ even if there are cases like i heard at finding criminal stuff in ‘bonus’ but yeah), even movies and of course cartoons allowing us to watch and not only the quality was different but also the balance of interactions between characters and script with the humour in the middle from this era. I still remember playing in PS1 and PS2 with graphics quality that sounded more unique no matter how it used to look “bad” from both consoles because we used to have lots of fun and this was around 2006-ish(?) to 2009 with me playing along with my brother, and how could i forget that morning and afternoon watching the classic Cartoon network with such nostalgic vibes before and after going to school with my bro watching Ben 10? Felt like a unique experience any child from this era could have and having CD disks being put inside of a radio to keep the music playing.

The internet

The first time i was allowed to have was only around early 2010s where j like most of y’all, i survived the era of classic online games and one which used to be my main passion was the so famous but sadly doesn't exist anymore is Club Penguin, boy, i remember spending a good time playing even at night until my time is over (who have siblings will understand lol) as when i was surfacing on YouTube where the algorithm changed drastically as time changed at least in the early 2010s i remember being way too addicted at those fandom ship tributes and AMVs with fanarts being put there like i also used to keep seeing on Google based on my tastes and characters and these videos were resumed in for example; Sonic, Teen Titans, My Little Pony, Annoying Orange, Creepypasta, speedpaint videos that were my huge inspiration for my art tips that still burns inside of me in nowdays so i could improvise in anatomy, filter and shading and i am still grateful by the way for experiencing this era of early 2010s. Of course i will NEVER SAY it’s okay for childrens like me have unsupervised internet access because you're not cool for this so yeah sorry to say that, because during the early 2000s where internet and social media was lowkey becoming a thing the authorities around the world and laws for internet safety especially for kids were getting concerned so they were already warning the youth about dangers of online access especially involving grooming ruining mental health for everyone.

The Millenials turned to be adults Probably almost in their 40s, but what now since Gen Z turned into young adults/teens?

With the impact of lifestyle, internet and media things changed in a drastic way things weren't pleasing way too much teens and younger adults than they used to expect and the algorithm of Youtube started to bring the feeling of boredom with Youtubers changing as well fullfing of dramas as there were things it would be better the solve it alone than bringing to the millions of people and ruin their life, and thanks to TikTok and internet in general the internet decided to revive the old lifestyle, fashion and especially quality posts and videos that would reflect how in 2000s to 2010 used to look like.

Example:the revival of movie maker presentations (those who were always shown as music lyrics on YT, tutorials or funny videos) being used again as a form of shitpost, the low quality as there are some of the people who comments on older videos like “this looks like some kind of nowadays humor” wrong, we literally digged back these kind of videos :)))

Not even forgetting to say that kind of posts with low quality also influenced a lot artistic movements seeing artists draw something they used to see around 00s Deviantart, the ancient art website, Blingee got vanished but PicMix came back with same influence.

Even myself i got inspired as i feed a lot my art with same aesthetic quality reflecting the gold era, like you guys see here.

And talking about the shitpost being on style of the old years from internet, because of today’s disappointment which aged like milk out of the fridge this generation started to use it as a escapism from how things became to the extreme at bringing back the humor and entering on the joke from that old aesthetic what they used to say as a entertainment, and jokes like these that nowadays could bring you bad reputation affecting your life, so what even say about the callout culture or known as ‘Cancel Culture?’ people were tired of internet extremism especially when they are, like, extremely political (this goes for both sides btw no hate) and technology advances with AI stuff and strict online safety being taught. For example, the doxxing being used from artificial intelligence at first seemed to be a good idea as a easy way to catch online criminals keeping easy when they wanna find people who commit crimes against humanity, but sadly it has fallen on wrong people's hands after 2020 who enjoys ruining other people's lives at violating their privacy as a form of “good hate” as if they are contributing to something good for something minimal treating like they were war criminals.

Yes, bad people always existed even before internet and social media as i feel totally annoyed at seeing someone commenting stuff like “why people are too problematic in nowadays??” As if horrible people with bad intentions haven’t existed before, but with the internet and technology especially the lockdown people changed their minds at becoming more “sanitized”, but unlike the 2000s everyone would consider themselves weird and no one was cancelled over that due to sense of humour or illustrations especially when it would involve fandoms being considered a place of fun and not morality to be questioned, at least years ago.

Everyone was weird in a good way and that’s okay, because they used to have fun!

2000s futuristic aesthetic comeback were also a reflection of escapism from Gen Z from disappointment of the future unpromised, to get rid of nowdays stress as if it has became black and white with cancel culture and lack of personality of home decorations escape away from minimalism (my own point of minimalistic decorations are already on the thumbnail what i think lol-)

“The unpromised future” that used to be pretty fantasized in those old videogames capes, the revival of ‘Frutiger Aero’ aesthetic with amount of despise to the future when it was all being put to expectations the idea of being also addicted to futuristic 2000s brings a feeling at being more “alive” with soul and magic, yes, nothing was perfect even from this beloved era and i don't want to generalize that everything is bad today which it’s not true, but in mostly aspects sometimes i wish to go back when the media and anything was balanced with should and personality with extravagance.

About the people born in 2009 or after who haven’t experienced this era too much but of course more the Early-Mid 2010s are also creating content based on the aesthetic before 2010, this specific feeling of appreciating something that wasn't from your era is pretty known as ‘Anemoia’ as for example, a person born in 1990 will appreciate and have a fake nostalgia from 70s as if the person was there before even if it wasn't from his own decade, so same thing happens with people born in a year where the 2000s was almost ending and probably the same of Gen Z born before when they were just childrens.

Conclusions:

There are many factors why Gen Z is obsessed with 2000s aesthetic to the point of causing major impact at bringing back with fashion, lifestyle, music, memes/shitposts based on this era humor are:

-escapism of minimalism stuff with lack of personality and life being put in nowadays from home decorations and buildings, but believing the 2000s the sense of fashion, music, and any media in general had more personality and soul completely disappointed of new generation after 2020.

-nostalgia due to the fact that was the decade they were born and were childrens and they still embrace this era.

-getting away from modern extremism from cancel culture and lack of content brought from internet especially YouTube, so they can mimic the low quality, as if after Millenials are not teenagers/young adults anymore now it’s the turn of Z youth mimich the past things said and fashion.

I personally i can relate to these three things because i really love the fashion sense (Mall goth, emo and scene specifically), the artworks like y’all can see here and the fact i was born and grew up experiencing the golden days to be a child just like everyone who was born there so feel free to comment your thoughts as well your reason to enjoy the 2000s aesthetic or if you relate to these three as well.

Yes, obviously i am pretty aware that we're in 2025, but whenever you come to my account always remember that you're traveling back to the golden age of internet and humanity based on my artworks also influences by this kind of movement brought back by 16,17 or +18 years old people because the 2000s never leave us when it comes to fashion sense and aesthetic :)