Let’s take a nostalgic look at high school dating in 1980 and how it stacks up against today’s dating scene.
1980:
Spot an attractive guy at school. Ask your friends for his name. Spend hours doodling his name in your notebook, along with your own and then imagine the possibilities of a life together.
2016:
Notice a super cute guy in class. Quickly ask your friends his name, then Google him during lunch. Your friends scour social media to find him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
1980:
Invite your pals over after school and dig into the phone book to look him up. Use your thumb to mark the page as you all squeal with excitement over his contact details.
2016:
At your place after school, you all compare search results on your phones. Group texts buzz with all the latest intel about your crush, while actual conversations are replaced with the sounds of typing and notification alerts.
1980:
Pull out the yearbook, flipping through black-and-white pictures of him. Memorize every detail, especially that baseball shot, imagining yourself cheering from the bleachers as he winks at you.
2016:
Log onto your computer to scroll through his Instagram, noticing he’s already posted multiple pics in different baseball uniforms. You hope he doesn’t think you’ll follow him to every game.
1980:
Bring the rotary phone over to the couch, dial his number slowly, and hang up immediately when someone answers. Repeat this awkwardness until your little brother barges in to watch his favorite show.
2016:
Type his address into Google Maps, zoom in for directions, and take a cute selfie to upload. After all, he might be checking out your social media too.
1980:
The next day, your friend, who knows his friend, asks whether he has a girlfriend. You hold your breath for the answer and try to casually find out where his locker is.
2016:
Your friend snaps a pic of him and casually mentions you think he’s cool. He replies with “HMU” (hit me up), and you’re ecstatic!
1980:
During lunch, you learn from your friend that he’s single—yay! Scribble your number on a piece of paper, fold it into a triangle, and give it to your friend to deliver.
2016:
Over lunch, your friend texts you his contact info. You save him under just his first name, planning to add a photo to his profile so you see his handsome face every time he messages you.
1980:
You wait by the phone at home, anxious about missing his call while your mom talks endlessly. You can only hope he doesn’t get a busy signal.
2016:
At home, he texts you before practice to set up a FaceTime chat later. You have plenty of time to get ready, grabbing a spray tan and stopping by Chipotle.
1980:
He calls during dinner, and your dad tells him to call back later. You hide in the closet, jump when the phone rings, and have a ten-minute conversation where you both say you’re “fine” way too many times.
2016:
You set up the perfect FaceTime background with your photo collages, wanting him to see you have a life too. He asks if you want to hang out Friday, and you agree, keeping it casual.
1980:
You wait by the door for him at 7 p.m., smoothing your outfit and anxiously waiting. When he arrives, your mom embarrassingly waves goodbye as you drive off listening to Blondie.
2016:
You take pictures of your top four outfits and text them to friends for advice. After settling on one, you shove some cash in your phone case just in case. He texts that he’s on the way, then complains about traffic.
1980:
You might not know if “Caddyshack” is a good date movie, but you know the date itself was amazing. You can’t wait to share every detail with your friends during roller skating on Saturday.
2016:
Your friends join you on the date, and during a bathroom break, you text those who couldn’t make it. You snap a cute selfie together for Instagram, excited to see how many likes it gets.
In conclusion, while teen dating has evolved dramatically over the years, the role of friends as wingmen remains unchanged. For more information on home insemination, check out this post that provides insights on fertility kits. Additionally, Cryobaby is a trusted resource in the field. For further details on insemination procedures, visit the Mayo Clinic, a great reference for pregnancy and home insemination.
Keyphrase: Teen Dating Comparison
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