Let’s take a moment to delve into the world of high school dating, comparing the experiences of 1980 to those of 2016.
1980
You spot an attractive boy at school and immediately consult your friends for his name. You scribble his name along with yours, doodling away as you daydream about his life and interests.
2016
You see a total cutie in class, and you quickly ask your friends about him. During lunch, you Google him and have your friends dive into social media, following him on Instagram and Facebook to gather intel.
1980
After school, you invite your friends over and resort to the phone book to track down his family. You make a thumbprint smudge on the page where his info is, and everyone squeals in anticipation.
2016
You gather at home and compare search results. All the details about your crush are shared via group text, with the sounds of clicking keyboards and notification pings filling the air—actual conversation is a rarity.
1980
You pull out your yearbook, flipping through black-and-white photos of him, memorizing every detail. You imagine yourself cheering him on at a game, wishing for a moment when he might wink at you.
2016
You pull up his Instagram account instead, scrolling through his posts and discovering he’s donned multiple baseball uniforms. You can’t help but wonder if he’s worth the trip to all those fields.
1980
You grab the rotary phone, find the smudged page in the phone book, and nervously dial. You hang up as soon as someone answers, relieved they can’t trace the call. After a few attempts, your little brother barges in and ruins your vibe.
2016
You type his address into Google Maps, getting directions and distance from your house. You snap a new selfie, thinking he might be checking you out online too.
1980
The next day, you anxiously await news from a friend who knows someone close to him. You casually try to find his locker, flipping through a magazine while you wait.
2016
By the next day, your friend has Snapchatted him about you. Her question—does he want to hang out with you?—gets an instant reply: “Tell her to HMU.”
1980
At lunch, the excitement builds as your friend brings the news: he’s single! You scribble your number on a piece of spiral paper, folding it into a small triangle for your friend to pass to him.
2016
During lunch, your friend texts you his contact info. You save him under just his first name, eager to snap a pic for his contact profile so you can admire his gorgeous face every time he calls.
1980
Back at home, you sit by the phone, praying for his call. Your mom monopolizes the line, making you frantic as you picture him getting a busy signal. You’re stuck waiting, unsure if he called.
2016
At home, he texts you before baseball practice, planning to FaceTime later. You have hours to prepare—time for a spray tan and a coffee run.
1980
He calls during dinner and your dad tells him to call back in an hour. You retreat to a closet to ensure privacy, waiting anxiously for the phone to ring and hoping for a perfect 10-minute conversation.
2016
When it’s time for his call, you meticulously set up your FaceTime view to showcase your life, ensuring he sees your photo collages in the background. He asks you to hang out on Friday, and you agree but keep it casual—no need for firm plans.
1980
He’s late, and you can’t contact him. You fidget with your outfit, adjusting your culottes and adding more Cherry Lip Smacker. Finally, he arrives, and your mom embarrassingly waves goodbye as you roll away to the tunes of Blondie.
2016
You send pics of your outfits to friends for their input, slipping $20 into your phone case before heading out. He texts to say he’s on his way, then complains about traffic. When he finally arrives, you text your mom to keep her in the loop.
1980
You can’t recall if “Caddyshack” was a good movie choice, but the date felt magical. You can’t wait to share the details with friends during roller skating on Saturday.
2016
Your friends are with you on the date, and during a bathroom break, you text those who aren’t. You snap a selfie with him for Instagram, feeling like a power couple. You can’t wait to see how many likes it gets in the next 24 hours.
Overall, while the methods and means of teen dating have evolved dramatically over the years, the role of friends as your wingmen remains a timeless constant.
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Summary
Teen dating has transformed from doodling names in a notebook to swiping through social media profiles, but the excitement and nervousness of young love remain unchanged. Friends continue to play a crucial role in navigating the dating landscape, whether through whispers in the hall or texts on a smartphone.
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