Growing up in the ’90s, everyone had that one Best Friend Forever (BFF) we would call late at night, spill secrets about our strict parents, and even plan out matching outfits. When we think about best friends from the ’90s versus today, a lot has shifted, but some things remain the same. We still have those late-night phone calls and share all the latest gossip. We still love to coordinate our outfits, but we pretend it’s just a coincidence. Honestly, not much has really changed; we’re just older and might enjoy a little wine now.
Best friends are like the siblings we either never got or didn’t really bond with. Yeah, siblings might have borrowed our favorite toys or used our training bras as hats (some of us know what that’s like), but our best friends are the ones we made goofy prank calls with and turned to when we spotted our crush holding hands with someone else during recess. We wouldn’t be who we are today without our best friends, from the ’90s to now, even if some things have changed a bit.
1. The Fights We Get Into
In the ’90s, your best friend said she would look after your digital pet while you were away on vacation, but she ended up letting it die. After that, it was hard to see her the same way again.
These days, adults don’t seem to have real arguments like they did before. Now, they just throw sarcastic remarks on Facebook and purposely avoid liking each other’s posts on Instagram.
2. How We Make Up Afterward
Back in the ’90s, when smartphones didn’t exist, if you had a disagreement with your best friend, you would often write a note during class. You’d decorate it with frowny faces and add tiny hearts on the i’s to express how much you missed her. You’d wrap it up with “LYLAS,” which stands for “love you like a sis,” just to make sure she remembered!
The peace offering often includes a $12 Starbucks coffee and a cheerful selfie of both of you to move on from what happened before.
3. Friday Night Entertainment
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In the ’90s: We’d go to the mall and buy fake nose rings from Claire’s, just before sneaking into an R-rated movie. We were such rebels.
Honestly, who even goes out anymore? Not us! Just hand us a Netflix series to watch and a few bottles of wine, and we’re good to go. It feels like it’s already FriYAY!
4. Playing Wingwoman
In the ’90s, you could find out who your real crush was by using a fun cootie catcher. After that, you’d set up a secret meeting in science class while your best friend kept other girls from getting too close.
Today: Every best friend knows that the secret to finding true love is to spend 14 hours looking for him on Facebook, using just his middle name.
5. Squad Goals
In the ’90s, it was all about searching for some awesome girls like you so you could act like the Spice Girls.
The great thing is you just need one more person to join you for the Single Ladies dance! But since you haven’t been feeling super social lately, your best friend is totally enough.
