Gen X'ers Reveal the Worst Parts of the '90s

Despite '90s nostalgia, some are listing the decade's downsides.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In the midst of '90s nostalgia, some Gen X'ers are taking to social media to share the worst parts of the decade, including things like high technology prices, the prevalence of cigarette smoke, and the insincerity and casual discrimination that was often accepted.

Why it matters

The '90s are often viewed through a rose-colored lens, but this list highlights that the decade had its fair share of downsides and challenges that are worth remembering as well. It provides a more balanced perspective on the era.

The details

The list of '90s grievances includes things like being locked out of the house after school with no way to contact parents, the high prices of basic technology, the prevalence of violent crime and other scary news events, the hassles of Blockbuster late fees and VHS rewinding, the ubiquity of cigarette smoke, the perceived insincerity and mean-spiritedness of '90s culture, and the casual acceptance of various forms of discrimination. The list aims to show that the '90s were not the 'golden era' that some nostalgic millennials and Gen Z'ers might believe.

  • The list was published on February 10, 2026.

The players

Gen X'ers

A group of individuals born between the early 1960s and the early 1980s who are now sharing their perspectives on the downsides of the '90s.

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The takeaway

While the '90s are often viewed through a nostalgic lens, this list serves as a reminder that the decade had its fair share of downsides and challenges that are worth acknowledging. It provides a more balanced perspective on the era and shows that even seemingly 'golden' periods in history had their flaws and problems.