Y2K, also known as the "Millenial Bug," was a term coined for a computer bug at the time. Computers were only capable of showing two digits of the current year. (Hence, Y-two-K.) Y2K refers to the very early 2000s--the decade before 2010. There were many diverse aspects of the early 2000s. There was an overall excitement of the new decade, leading to experimental fashion trends, bright colors, and a new age of pop. Alternative fashion and music saw a boom, reinventing itself from nineties alternative and goth culture. Social media was on the up-and-up, with make-it-yourself sites like MySpace finding popular relevance with teens and young adults of the millenial generation. It was a time to be alive--and to be excited about being alive. Check out the sections below to learn more about the early 2000's!
Cell phones, just like today, were all the rage pre-2010s--specifically the Blackberry phone. Customizable ringtones were popular amongst the young adult crowd, and the culture of specializing ringtones for boyfriends and friends made advertising Blackberry's product all-too-easy. Beyonce went on record saying that she slept with her cellphone. In 2006, Paris Hilton tweeted that she did not, in fact, hack Lindsay Lohan's Blackberry cell. In 2007, Blackberry saw a business-breaking drop in cell phone purchases when Apple came out with the iPhone. It was out with the old and in with the new!
The Y2K pop scene was maximalist at best. More--more--more! Mixed with a glitzy alternative look and futuristic space vibes, music videos were either shiny relics of overconsumption or oversaturated works of emo art. I blame the industrial boom of plastics and the easy access to things.
Monkey see, monkey do! When popstars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilara rolled out onto the red carpets in kitchy neon, the masses followed suit. Y2K was all about bright neons and sparkly glitter; colorful eyeshadow and pink lipgloss. As for men's fashion, it was essential that the shoes matched the shirt--always! Clean sneakers, Bermuda-style shorts, and baggy, white clothes from head-to-toe were the sweetest thing to wear on the street.
The trend of media during the Y2K era had an overwhelming and almost chaotic vibe of optimism. The aesthetic of TV shows and movies often reflected a feeling of excitement about technological boom. Referred to as the "Golden Age" of media, the early 2000s created classics like the Harry Potter movie series as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Y2K also saw a rise in popular reality TV show media, sporting shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians and The Simple Life. These reality media stars set a precedence for a new kind of making-a-living, just profiting off of broadcasting their day-to-day.
During the 2000s "Digital Revolution," younger and older generations alike could be seen on the streets sporting all sorts of new technology, namely iPods and MP3 players. An easier access to media like music and social outreach profiles saw a generational shift not before seen. Social media was on the rise, with pages like MySpace and Facebook making a come-uppance. Music platforms saw a trend after sites like Napster allowed for downloading of singular songs rather than the purchase of entire albums. Everything was becoming personalized and individually tailored, regardless of class.