Look, I love living in the future — I can order mozzarella sticks from my bed and video-call Myron while I’m in a face mask — but also… 2003 me would be howling at the nonsense we put up with now. Case in point: Instagram just swapped notifications and messages and my thumbs have filed a formal complaint.
Here’s a little then-vs-now from my memory box:
- 2025: Instagram moved the buttons again; my muscle memory is in tears.
2003: The “update” was me changing my MSN font to hot pink and feeling unstoppable. - 2025: I don’t delete unused apps because the grid will shift and I’ll forget where anything lives.
2003: One desktop. One Recycle Bin. Seventeen WordArt titles. Peace. - 2025: Face ID logs me in so often I’ve forgotten every password I’ve ever had.
2003: Password was literally “sclub7forever” and somehow that felt secure. - 2025: “Storage almost full” because screenshots of recipes I’ll never cook.
2003: 12 webcam pics called me1.jpg to me12.jpg and a folder named “IMPORTANT!!!” - 2025: 47 unread DMs, three group chats, and a “tap to view once” spiral.
2003: One MSN nudge and you were seen, heard, validated, and slightly deaf. - 2025: Algorithm decides who I love today.
2003: My Top 8 (in sparkly GIF) settled that argument. - 2025: “Update available.” “Update required.” “App will restart.” I just wanted to post a pic of my Pepsi Max??
2003: I opened Paint. I made pixel art. I was an artist. - 2025: Typing “sorry just catching up on messages!” for the third time this week.
2003: “BRB, dinner.” Returning 90 minutes later like nothing happened. - 2025: 4K camera, cinematic mode, seventeen filters, still look like a potato.
2003: Grainy webcam, fluorescent lighting, iconic. - 2025: Location permissions, cookie banners, two-factor codes texted to Mars.
2003: “Do you want to install Adobe Flash Player?” Me: live a little. - 2025: Calendar reminders for self-care.
2003: Self-care = logging off MSN to watch SMTV in pyjamas. - 2025: “What’s your aesthetic?” Uh… “girly nostalgic chaos”?
2003: Aesthetic was whatever MySpace layout had stars that followed your cursor. - 2025: The For You Page thinks I need a 48-step morning routine.
2003: Morning routine = open curtains, cereal, Live & Kicking. - 2025: I can stream any song ever and still spend 9 minutes choosing one.
2003: The CD said 12 tracks and I said thank you. - 2025: “Low battery” at 2pm because I took 400 photos of nothing.
2003: Nokia 3210 at 3%? That’s three business days. - 2025: People announce life updates on Notes screenshots.
2003: We changed our MSN name to “Asten ✨ is feeling happy ✨” and that was the press release. - 2025: Push notifications for everything except the thing I’m waiting for.
2003: The dial-up tone was the only notification I needed.
I’m not saying 2003 was perfect (shout-out to the terror of accidentally opening “Girls.com” 😬), but there was something sweet about the simplicity: fewer buttons to move, fewer places to panic, and all the time in the world to choose the perfect lyric for your status.
My official statement on the Instagram button swap: Stop changing things. I liked it how it was.
Until then, I’ll be here, not deleting any apps in case the entire home screen shifts and my thumb gets lost again. 2003 me would never — and honestly? She had a point. ✨📱💖
Asten Does Nostalgia 
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