Pick: What was the 20th-century version of these 21st-century things?

What were the old forms of social media, smartphones and avocado toast?

Who remembers a time before instant gratification and constant communication? Things have changed drastically in the last 50 years. Information is at our fingertips and many activities like shopping and listening to music are now more convenient than ever. But the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Here are 15 very 21st-century things. Pick their 20th-century equivalents and see if others agree with your choices.

Did you think of something not listed here? Leave a comment telling us what it is!

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  1. Which one do you think was the smartphone equivalent back in the day?
  2. Group text chats are now a common way to stay in touch with many different people. What was the best version of that before?
  3. Speaking of texting, what's the best 1970s version of emojis?
  4. Now we have satellite navigation on our phones but before we had to...
  5. If you don't have a car, you can use a rideshare app — but what was the easiest option back in the day?
  6. What was the 1960s version of a dating app?
  7. Avocado toast has become the trendy food of the last few years. What was that food for the 1960s?
  8. Nowadays we can get food delivered at the touch of a button. What was the equivalent before?
  9. We can also buy almost anything we want online, used or new! What was the 1960s version of that?
  10. What was the 1960s version of social media?
  11. What was the 1970s version of playing online video games?
  12. Music streaming has made it easier to find new tunes and listen on the go. What was the old version of that?
  13. Speaking of streaming, what was the 1970s version of binge-watching?
  14. What was the equivalent of YouTube back in the day?
  15. Of course, one of the biggest changes in the 21st century is the ability to instantly know something with Google. What was the best version of that 50 years ago?

Pick: What was the 20th-century version of these 21st-century things?

Your Result...

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65 Comments

Catman 20 months ago
Questionable choice "watching home videos" in #14 maybe an anachronism. Home movies would be a better expression, I think. 58%
Kelley1 25 months ago
Also I'd rather have a good radio station than streaming. The hosts know what's good. It's easy to hear new artists. I've tried new stations and heard music I would have never heard if I'd had to search it out myself. That's not to mention that they break in with the weather so I don't have to expose myself to the sorry things happening today (no need to expound).
Kelley1 25 months ago
I've been going through my grandma's storage room. I found the 50's version of the Veggetti: a metal gadget, the same as the plastic, but the box said it was for making your own sausage. Gardeners and chefs know the 1 Second Slicer as a mandolin. The Belly Burner was without copper but with a rubber back (and it didn't work). I remember watching Ron Popiel selling these things on TV. Everything old is new again.
Randall 34 months ago
#6 is interesting, I remember those COMPUTER DATING mail order companies being advertised in the 60s and 70s everything old is new again!
JDnHuntsvilleAL 35 months ago
*No 2 - Group text chats are now a common way to stay in touch with many different people. What was the best version of that before?*

Those of you who answered "Party Line" have *NO IDEA* what a party line was. You didn't get to choose who was on the party line with you.
CaptainDunsel 35 months ago
#14 What was the equivalent of YouTube back in the day?
Watching home videos

Um - Dear MeTV interns - watching what? I think you meant to say "Watching home MOVIES", right?
biscuits18521 45 months ago
75% similar to the most popular responses.
SashaPayneDiaz 45 months ago
70%.....and I prefer peanut butter & jelly toast.
BobD 45 months ago
What the h*ll is " Avocado toast " ???
bewest169 46 months ago
90% feel so sorry for todays youths not knowing how simple and fun the 70's where where you had respect for being an individual and own thougths not todays group think and if you are not in line you are shamed and threaten by social media bullies
Greg bewest169 45 months ago
In the 70s the bullies were in school and at home
Ironhead75 46 months ago


81% similar to the most popular responses
kimmer 46 months ago
63%....hanging out in our fort in the woods....radio playing on our fave AM station....we knew our fort was better than the older kids, cause they'd chase us out!!!
DJS3 46 months ago
70% - I'm not sure if that's supposed to be good or bad.
daDoctah 46 months ago
Before there was 4K HD, we had ViewMaster!
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