What We Lost Before The Internet Took Over

stock here: I lived this era, what a perspective~!

Summary of “The World Before the Internet” by Matt Ross

Matt Ross shares a heartfelt and vivid personal reflection on growing up in the pre-internet era, particularly the 1980s and early 1990s. Through stories of BMX bike adventures, crashing on a homemade ramp, and roaming neighborhoods freely, he contrasts the unstructured, imaginative, and social world of the past with the more isolated, digital-focused experience of today’s youth.

Key themes include:

• Freedom and Adventure: Kids had real-world freedom to explore, fail, scrape knees, and make memories without parental hovering or digital supervision.
• Face-to-Face Socializing: Friendships were built in person. You had to knock on doors, call landlines, and even face scary dads to talk to a girl.
• Imagination and Wonder: Without instant answers from Google or AI, kids lived in wonder. Rumors persisted for years, and creativity flourished.
• Physical Effort: Everything—from renting movies to listening to music—required effort and involvement. This created a deeper appreciation for entertainment and social experiences.
• Cultural Changes: Kids worked earlier, played outside more, and experienced emotional milestones more slowly and genuinely.
• Criticism of Modern Parenting: Ross believes current parenting is too protective and digitally reliant, denying kids important growth experiences and the joy of uncertainty.
• Call to Reflect: He encourages viewers to remember and share their own stories from before the digital age, inviting nostalgia and conversation.

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My Opinion

This was an outstanding and heartfelt reflection. It resonates deeply for anyone who lived through that era, especially those born before 1995. Ross captures something we’ve largely lost—the magic of not knowing, of earning your fun, and of being truly present. His storytelling was authentic and relatable, and even humorous at times (like the missing bike tire mid-air moment).

What makes this great isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a call to value what’s missing today. Kids today have infinite content but limited contact. Their lives are managed and measured by screens, and Ross challenges us to rethink that.

From a societal standpoint, it’s important content—a reminder that freedom, imagination, risk, and real-world interaction matter more than convenience and connectivity. His message isn’t anti-technology but pro-human experience.

Rating: 9.5/10 — evocative, honest, and needed more than ever.