Compared to the 2020s, the 1970s feels like an entirely different era, filled with typewriters, Star Wars action figures and the explosion in popularity of disco balls.
The decade was also famed for bell-bottom trousers, shag carpets and the introduction of the word âgroovyâ to the lexicon. However, as time passes, so do the trends, and so things viewed as entirely normal one decade are looked back on with bemusement the next.
Take a trip down memory lane to figure out which staples of the 1970s are things that todayâs generation just wouldnât understandâŠ
© Getty ImagesThe little gadgets are still in use
Shot with Polaroid cameras
These days, if you want a photo with your friends, you just need to whip out your phone, but this wasnât always the case. Back in the 70s, a Polaroid camera was the quickest way, but you could still only take one shot and needed to wave the photo to get it to develop quicker. Polaroids are still used today for their novelty factor, but theyâre no longer the go-to.
© Getty ImagesFriends werenât always readily available
Used dial-up phones
Everyone is instantly contactable nowadays thanks to mobile phones. But back in the 70s, if your friend wasnât in their house, you had no way of contacting them. It was also a nightmare if someone else in your household was using your landline.
The 70s were also a decade of just dropping in on your friends. We canât imagine someone showing up at our door without having made firm plans beforehand!
© Getty ImagesWould you have wanted one?
Owned pet rocks
When many people think of pets, you might picture a cat or a dog, maybe a turtle if youâre feeling adventurous, but in 1975, everyone wanted a pet rock. These pets would arrive in their own carrier and were pitched as the perfect pet as they never needed to be walked, fed or cleaned up after, and they never died.
Even though the fad only lasted for half a year and the toy was discontinued in February 1976, the product made creator Gary Dahl a millionaire. Theyâve recently been seeing a resurgence in South Korea, where theyâre used to assist in meditation or venting frustration.
© Getty ImagesWaterbeds were incredibly popular
Slept on waterbeds
While the 1960s were often framed as the decade of sexual liberation, the 1970s continued to embrace this trend, and waterbeds formed a surprise part of that. Patented in 1971, they were initially sold as âliquid support for human bodiesâ, but sexually themed advertising offered it as an unconventional new way.
Waterbeds continued to be popular during the 1980s, at one point making up 22% of all mattress sales, but due to their weight and possibility of leakages, they eventually fell out of favour. Today, youâre much more likely to relax on one in a spa than find it in a personâs bedroom!
© Getty ImagesPuka shells were such a fashion trend
Wore puka shell necklaces
While puka shell necklaces first came onto the scene in the 1960s, they exploded in popularity during the 1970s thanks to the star power behind some of the wearers, including Elizabeth Taylor. They continued being a trend thanks to surfing culture and were worn by every teen heartthrob of the decade. While you might still see the occasional one, theyâre more often worn by those near the beach rather than the suburbs.
© Getty ImagesThe toys ended up getting banned
Played with clackers
Clackers were one of the most popular schoolyard toys of the decade, and kids would be in awe of their peers who managed to successfully master the toy. However, safety concerns soon started spreading as the acrylic plastic could shatter if the balls hit each other hard enough. They were banned in the playground and more widely in the United States.
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Redesigns with safer materials led to a resurgence in the 1990s, and the popular toy brand has recently been taking over Indonesia and the Philippines.
© Getty ImagesSmoking used to be way more common
Smoking in school
While smoking is still very much a part of culture, back in the 70s, students were able to smoke during school hours. While today, students might sneak out for a cigarette, back then, certain schools had designated smoking areas for older students, even though the practice was still frowned upon. As the health risks of smoking became more prevalent, these were phased out of schools.
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