21 Things That Have Become Obsolete Since 2000
Butterfly clips, we hardly knew ye.
Don't forget to pin this story for later!
And follow Redbook on Pinterest for more nostalgia-inducing content.
Answering Machines
Never mind the significance answering machines played in your life. In the 20th century, a rom-com that didn't involve at least one ill-timed speaker phone message would be nearly inconceivable. The blinking light's final small-screen gift? Bringing Ross and Rachel together at last in May 2004's Friends finale.
Butterfly Clips
Did you also wear them to prom in 1999 and then never again?
AOL Instant Messenger
Forget selfies. The away message was once the window into a teenager's soul *sees crush has logged on, immediately copies/pastes Dave Matthews Band lyrics*.
Zip Drives
Sure, it needed its own special drive and cost plenty of coin, but the sturdy zip disk soon swept the graphic design world because it could hold a whopping 100MB of data to a floppy disk's 1.44MB. Now, even a novelty flash drive holds literally thousands of times more data.
Wet Seal
R.I.P., beautiful teen mall chain where you could purchase the lowest rise jeans your butt could possibly attempt to hold up! (Equally sad: The downfall of Charlotte Russe and Limited Too.)
Tape Recorders
The device's name remains, but recordings are now all digital. It's just all so easy for reporters and mischievous little brothers these days.
Teal iMacs
The first teal iMac was released in 1998 and was soon followed by a candy-colored explosion of choices. Today's discerning Apple customer deliberates between more subtle finishes: Should I get my MacBook in silver… or space gray?
Boy Bands and Girl Groups
For two blissful decades, boy bands like Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, O-Town, and whatever band Nick Lachey was in ruled the charts with their angelic voices and synchronized dance moves. Meanwhile, models of female friendship and empowerment were never stronger than in the era of En Vogue, TLC, The Spice Girls, and B*Witched. When the epitome of girl groups, Destiny's Child, called it quits in 2005, the world shed a collective, harmonized tear — and yet they've proven to be the gift that keeps on giving. (Can you imagine a world without Beyoncé? Yeah, I don't like to think about it either.)
RELATED: 21 Things You Definitely Wore (and Loved) in the '90s
The Matching Outfits of Said Boy Bands and Girl Groups
Look around at today's awards shows, and is there a coordinating costume anywhere in sight? Nope! The end of an era, indeed.
Paper Maps
Reading maps on road trips — also known as the art of getting the sprawling map's folds to line up well enough for the whole thing to fit back into your glove compartment — went the Waze, er, way of the Reliant K. You can thank MapQuest for that (which, by the way, is still trucking along).
RELATED: 5 Amazing American Road Trips You've Gotta Take This Summer
Chunky Highlights
Kelly Clarkson circa 2017? Still relevant! Kelly Clarkson's 'do circa 2002? Not so much.
The Sweet Song of a Dial-Up Modem
Followed by the equally satisfying, "You've got mail."
RELATED: 9 Things on the Internet That Make Moms Stressed AF
Personal Ads
Never again will a DWM seek a NS SF for long walks on the beach — in print, at least.
Zima
Because society didn't learn its clear-drink lesson after Crystal Pepsi, the experiment was soon repeated with beer. Or rather, a beer alternative. You know, zomething different. Mmmmm.
Checking to Make Sure You Have Your Discman, Your Camera, and Your Mobile Phone Before You Leave the House
Now, everything's in one (much smaller) device, of course — and there's no way your phone is ever going out of arm's reach.
Beepers
Before cell phones took over, pagers weren't just for Dr. Greene. The only problem: After that (inevitably exaggerated) 911 beep from your best friend, you had to find a pay phone and a quarter to call her back.
RELATED: What 20 Celebrities Would Look Like With '90s Brows
Circuit City
See also, Computer City, Radio Shack, Tweeter, and The Wiz — which, it turns out, somebody did beat. Somebody called Amazon.
Appointment TV
Like you were ever going to miss an episode of Boy Meets World (or All That, if Snick was more your thing).
7 Reasons Why Octopuses Are the Weirdest/Greatest
18 St. Patrick's Day Memes That Are So Accurate
35 Best Easter Gift Ideas for Adults
75 Best Ramadan Greetings and Wishes