---
title: Gen Z loves outdated tech
description: Gen Z craves digital cameras and Y2K fashion.
---

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# [Gen Z loves outdated tech](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/01122023-gen-z-outdated-tech)

 Written by [Sara Friedman](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/sara-friedman) | Jan 12, 2023 8:42:14 AM

Rolling into the school cafeteria with the newest smartphone was once the pinnacle of cool — but not anymore.

Today’s teenagers seek the opposite: They’re ditching modern [tech](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/style/teens-social-media.html) for phones and cameras from the days of yore (AKA the early 2000s), per the [*The New York Times*](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/technology/digital-cameras-olympus-canon.html).

#### **Uh, why?**

The choice to part with a smartphone — and its top-tier camera — to bang out texts on T9 might seem a little confusing.

But old-school phones and cameras appeal to today’s teens:

- They can take photos without being on their cell phones.
- They get space from social media, which [36%](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/#:~:text=Teens%20who%20are%20almost%20constantly,on%20social%20media%20too%20much.) of teens say they use too much.

Older digital cameras capture less detail and let in less light through their lenses, producing lower-quality photos. But blurry, vintage-looking photos are exactly what Gen Zers want to stand out from the crowd — and, ironically, to stand out on Instagram.

EBay searches for “digital camera” increased 10% from 2021 to 2022, with searches for specific camera models rising even more sharply (“Nikon COOLPIX,” for example, saw a 90% jump).

#### **Y2K nostalgia…**

… has gripped more than just the tech industry. It’s fueled the return of fashion trends like low-rise jeans and velour tracksuits, with brands like [Juicy Couture](https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/how-juicy-couture-and-true-religion-made-a-comeback), True Religion, and [Abercrombie](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/abercrombie-fitch-new-generation/2021/11/22/da33feec-488e-11ec-b05d-3cb9d96eb495_story.html) making lucrative comebacks.

So BRB, blasting Eminem and digging out our Razr phones.

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/01122023-gen-z-outdated-tech)

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