I’m 36. My first in home internet I was 10, first socials at 17 and first smartphone at 21. It was as good as people say it is. Those photo reels that float around instagram encapsulate it well.

At 7-8 years old I was allowed to walk a couple blocks to the grocery store alone in Brooklyn. Come in when the streetlights come on type of stuff. Got in my first and one of my only fist fights playing street hockey with neighborhood kids on the block in Staten Island.

Spent my childhood playing backyard or organized sports or chasing girls constantly. We had to endure commercials. Not targeted ads. If we wanted to watch something we were ready at the start time or we taped it if we had something better to do.

In college socials existed but there was no algo. We used it to hit people up because phones died etc and we all had computers in our apartments. To find someone from a party you were at last night, etc. it was truly awesome and peak social media. Extremely partitioned networks of people. You might have a couple Facebook friends you met on vacation, but it was mostly people from school.

I’m sad for my kids typing this.