1. No Seat Belts, No Problem
In the ’70s, cars didn’t come with the safety features we’re used to today. Seat belts were in the car, but honestly, people didn’t always wear them. Kids were often bouncing around the backseat, even during a ride down the highway. Forget about booster seats or car seats—those were rare, and if you had one, it was probably more about keeping you from rolling around than actually protecting you in case of a crash says Medium.
And it wasn’t just a rebellious thing—people didn’t think twice about it. In fact, many drivers didn’t even buckle up, assuming they were good enough at driving to avoid any issues. Looking back, it’s hard to believe just how casual everyone was about safety, especially when you think about how critical it is today. A Gen Zer would probably feel like they were in the wild west of driving.
2. No Cell Phones: Just Payphones and Landlines
If you needed to make a call in the ’70s, forget about pulling out a smartphone. There were payphones everywhere, and the only people who had landlines in their homes were the lucky ones. Want to get in touch with someone? You had to hope they were at home, and if not, you’d have to leave a message on an answering machine shares the Guardian. Oh, and be ready to pay for that phone call—it wasn’t free!
If you wanted to find someone, you’d have to guess where they might be. No texting or social media to track people down. Just dialing away, hoping someone answered and then hoping they weren’t busy, which, let’s face it, was pretty common. For Gen Zers who rely on instant communication, this could be a real nightmare.
3. The Great TV Remote Shortage
TV remotes didn’t exist the way we know them today. If you wanted to change the channel, you had to get up and turn the knob on the TV. And if you were watching a show in the middle of an exciting scene? Tough luck, you had to get up anyway. This was long before voice control, smart TVs, or even the idea of scrolling through hundreds of channels adds Modern Mom.
Imagine having to walk to the TV every time you wanted to change the channel. On top of that, TV was scheduled—if you missed your show, that was it. No DVRs or streaming services to save the day. For someone used to the luxury of skipping commercials and binge-watching, the struggle would be real.
4. Ditching the Internet for Books and Magazines
The internet didn’t exist in the ’70s, and if you wanted information, you had to go old school. Libraries were the go-to spot, and people spent time flipping through books or reading magazines to get their news. Want to learn about something? You’d have to pull out a physical encyclopedia or wait for a magazine to come in the mail. The idea of Google wasn’t even on the radar!
People would take hours at the library just to find the right sources. It wasn’t as fast and convenient as a quick online search. For a Gen Zer, the concept of having to manually hunt down information seems completely outdated. How could you survive without instant answers?
5. No Wi-Fi, Just a Slow Connection
If you wanted to get online in the ’70s, you were probably out of luck. Wi-Fi didn’t exist, and even if you had a computer, it was dial-up, which meant that the moment you connected, the house was filled with a series of beeps and screeches. If you were lucky enough to get through, your internet connection would be slower than a snail. So much for the instant gratification we know today.
For anyone growing up in the digital age, waiting 20 minutes just to load a page feels like a horror show. And forget about streaming music or video—you were lucky if you could even open your email. The idea of a slow, static connection is completely foreign to those used to the lightning-fast internet we have now.
6. No Email: Just Snail Mail
Before the days of emails, text messages, and instant chats, if you wanted to communicate, it was through good old-fashioned snail mail. Letters took days or even weeks to arrive depending on where you were sending them. Sending a birthday card meant a trip to the store, a stamp, and a long wait for the recipient to get it.
Gen Zers are used to instant communication through social media or texts, but imagine waiting days to hear back from someone. That feeling of anticipation was real, and not always in the best way. Plus, the cost of sending letters could add up, so if you had a lot of people to communicate with, it was quite the commitment.
7. Big Hair, Bigger Problems
The ‘70s were all about big, voluminous hair. For both men and women, the bigger the hair, the better. Women would spend hours at the salon getting their hair permed or teased to perfection, while men were rocking long, shaggy cuts. This wasn’t a quick look to pull off either—keeping hair styled and maintained was a time-consuming effort.
For someone today, the idea of spending hours on hair maintenance seems like a nightmare. Gen Z is more about quick and easy, with the rise of minimalist styles and the “I woke up like this” look. It’s a far cry from the extravagant hair trends that required a lot of work to look effortless.
8. The Walkman Was the Coolest Gadget
Portable music was a game-changer in the ‘70s, but the device that made it happen—the Walkman—was bulky, clunky, and far from what we now consider convenient. Unlike the sleek, wireless earbuds or the instant streaming available now, you had to carry around cassette tapes. If you wanted to change the song, you had to physically flip or rewind the tape, and that could take a while.
Gen Zers would probably laugh at the Walkman’s lack of functionality, especially compared to the tech they’re used to today. No playlists or streaming—just what you had on a cassette. It’s a nostalgic piece of history, but definitely not the most efficient way to enjoy music.
9. Public Bathrooms Were a Gamble
In the ’70s, public restrooms were often a scary unknown. You could never be sure if a bathroom would be stocked with toilet paper or clean enough to use. Hand dryers? Sometimes they didn’t even work. The idea of a clean, safe space for everyone to use wasn’t a priority, and many bathrooms were just plain unpleasant.
For anyone used to the well-maintained public bathrooms of today, this seems like a nightmare. There were no fancy amenities or even a guarantee that you’d have a functional bathroom. The risk of encountering a dirty or even non-existent toilet paper roll was something everyone had to accept.
10. Smoking Everywhere, All the Time
In the ’70s, smoking was an everyday activity, and it wasn’t just limited to designated smoking areas. People smoked on airplanes, in restaurants, and in offices. In fact, you were likely to be surrounded by cigarette smoke everywhere you went. Smoking was considered stylish and sophisticated, and it was just part of life.
For anyone today who can’t imagine a world where people are smoking indoors, it sounds like a strange, unsettling past. Gen Zers have grown up in a world of smoke-free zones and are used to walking into public spaces without a cloud of cigarette smoke. The ’70s, on the other hand, were a completely different time when smoking was ubiquitous and accepted in many places.
11. Crazy Fashion Trends No One Will Forget
The fashion in the ’70s was bold, to say the least. Bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye shirts, and wide collars dominated the streets. People wore bright colors, platform shoes, and anything that screamed individuality. It was all about standing out with funky patterns, wild styles, and expressing yourself.
For Gen Zers, these fashion choices may seem strange and maybe even a little embarrassing. The idea of wearing pants that flare out at the bottom or platform shoes high enough to make you feel like you’re on stilts could definitely freak them out. But back then, these were the trends that everyone was rocking, no questions asked.