Best friends are the siblings we never had. Or maybe we did have siblings but we just didn’t like them very much. While your siblings stole your favorite toys and ran around outside with your training bra on your head (*cough* happened to a friend…), your best friend was the one you’d make prank calls with, and the shoulder to cry on when you caught your crush holding hands with some other chick on the playground.
1. Communication Evolution:
In the ’90s, BFF relationships relied heavily on phone calls, landlines, and passing notes in class. Today, communication is instantaneous through texting, social media, and video calls.
2. Social Media Influence:
While ’90s BFFs may have shared physical photo albums or written letters, today’s friendships are often showcased on Instagram stories, Snapchat streaks, and Facebook posts.
3. Tech-Savvy Collaborations:
BFF collaborations used to involve mixtapes and matching outfits; now, friends create joint playlists on streaming platforms or engage in online challenges together.
4. Global Connection:
Thanks to technology, modern besties can stay connected across continents with ease through messaging apps and virtual hangouts.
5. Memories Documentation:
In the past, memories were captured on disposable cameras or journals; today, they’re instantly stored in cloud services and shared via digital albums.
6. Instant Gratification:
From ordering food with a tap to streaming movies simultaneously from different locations, modern BFFs enjoy instant gratification in various aspects of their relationship.
7. Virtual Celebrations:
Celebrating birthdays or milestones may have meant physical cards and parties back then; now, virtual gatherings take place over Zoom calls with friends from around the world.
8. Shared Online Spaces:
90s BFFs would swap school photos or magazine clippings; today’s friends curate shared Pinterest boards or Google Docs filled with collaborative ideas.
9. Support Networks:
The support network for modern besties extends beyond physical presence thanks to group chats offering 24/7 advice and emotional support.
10. Digital Detox Challenges:
While ’90s BFFs might have unplugged during sleepovers for real-time bonding experiences without devices, today’s friends might opt for digital detox challenges to prioritize face-to-face interactions.
11. Self-Care Influence:
The current era emphasizes mental health awareness and self-care practices like meditation apps shared among BFF circles as ways to support each other’s well-being and personal growth.
