'Was the 2000s really the best time ever?': Singaporean misses days of outdoor games and genuine friendships

Ah, the 2000s. A time when children went outside to make friends, played silly games, and enjoyed entire afternoons without checking their phones. For some millennials, those days seem glorious compared to today's screen-heavy social lives. One Singaporean shared his nostalgia on Reddit, asking whether the 2000s were truly the best time to grow up. "Kids going out, actually meeting their friends and playing rather than virtual 'meets' all the time, or even if meeting but just using a phone," he wondered.

The Singaporean expressed a sense of wonder at how much had changed since the 2000s and questioned whether the rise of smartphones was the sole reason behind the shift in socialization and entertainment. He also pondered whether the decline in show quality and the prevalence of AI could be factors in people's diminished appreciation for human interaction.

In the comments section, multiple Singaporean Reddit users agreed that the 2000s had a certain charm, recalling the ease of meeting up with friends and spending quality time together.

One user mentioned how simple it was to arrange plans for cinema outings, gaming sessions at LAN shops, or casual dinner dates at restaurant chains like McDonald's or Pasta Mania. Another reminisced about family evenings spent watching local TV shows like "Phua Chu Kang," "Under One Roof," and "Police and Thief." A third user shared that growing up in the 2000s meant forming genuine friendships and looking forward to school interactions without dread.

However, not everyone shared the sentiment that the 2000s were the best time for growing up. Some users argued that millennials were just romanticizing the past due to lacking any major worries as children, a common experience for all generations. One commenter pointed out that the notion of a "best time ever" is subjective and depends on the era in which one was born.