A Trip Down Memory Lane: Growing Up in the Era of Three Tech Revolutions

If you grew up in the 90s or early 2000s, chances are you’ve witnessed the kind of technological shifts that make you pause and think, Wow, life really was different back then. Looking back, our generation was at the heart of three seismic technological revolutions: social media, smartphones, and now, AI with tools like ChatGPT. Each felt like a door to a brand-new world—one we stepped into with a mix of curiosity, excitement, and maybe a little apprehension.

Social Media: The Orkut Days and Beyond

Do you remember Orkut? That first taste of social networking. For many of us, it was our first peek into a global community—scraps, testimonials, and meticulously curated “About Me” sections. I remember logging in at NIT Durgapur's Computer Centre to check if someone had left me a scrap, accepted my friend request or updated their profile photo. There was something delightfully innocent about it, wasn’t there?

Then came Facebook. It didn’t just storm the world—it changed how we lived. Suddenly, life events were “official” only if they were on Facebook. Friendships were defined by - tags in endless photos, occasional pokes, and competing on Facebook games (loved Geo Tagging and FarmVille); and every little thought found its way onto our timelines. And let’s not forget Twitter, the “microblogging” site that introduced us to the concept of 'following' celebrities of our choice (Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan) and a platform to share our thoughts in 140 characters.

Social media grew up with us, and though it’s morphed into something entirely different now with shorts, stories, ads and whatnot, there’s no denying how magical it felt in its early days.

Smartphones: From Buttons to Touchscreens

I still remember my first phone: a Nokia 6030. It wasn’t much—just a sturdy little device for calls, texts, and maybe a few rounds of Snake. But it felt like a ticket to independence.

And then… 2007 happened. Steve Jobs walked on stage and pulled a revolution out of his pocket. “An iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator… Are you getting it?” That first iPhone wasn’t just a phone—it was a promise of the future. Suddenly, the idea of carrying a music player, a camera, and an entire computer in your hand didn’t seem so far-fetched.

Fast forward to today, and it’s hard to imagine life without smartphones. They’re our maps, our libraries, our photo albums, and so much more. But nothing quite beats the nostalgia of those first few years, fumbling with touchscreens and marvelling at how futuristic it all felt.

ChatGPT and the Rise of AI

And now, here we are, on the brink of another revolution: artificial intelligence. Tools like ChatGPT have changed the game yet again. It’s not just about accessing information anymore—it’s about having conversations with technology.

I still remember the first time I typed something into ChatGPT. It felt eerily human, like talking to a friend who always has the right answer (or at least tries to). It’s funny to think how quickly we’ve adapted to AI tools that were pure science fiction not too long ago.

This moment takes me back to the early days of Orkut, the thrill of opening my first Gmail account, or making a Skype call to my parents in India from Singapore. I remember the wonder of holding an iPhone for the first time and marvelling at the future it promised—just like I do now when I video call my parents back home on WhatsApp with clarity and ease that once felt impossible. It’s a familiar blend of awe and uncertainty, but above all, it feels like the beginning of something extraordinary.

Looking back, it’s incredible how much has changed in just a couple of decades. From social media shaping how we connect, to smartphones redefining how we live, to AI opening doors we didn’t even know existed—it’s been quite the journey.

What’s next? Who knows. But if the past is any indication, it’ll be both exciting and transformative. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll look back on this era with the same nostalgia someday.