16 Early 2000s Tech References in PEN15 That Will Fill You With So Much Nostalgia

If you're a late '80s baby that went to middle school in the early 2000s, you need to watch PEN15 right now. The Hulu original show follows best friends Maya and Anna as they start seventh grade in the year 2000. And the two, who are actually played by actresses in their 30s, do so many things that will make you both laugh and cry with nostalgia. From choosing the perfect AIM screen name to talking on their clear landline phones to passing notes in class, PEN15 perfectly captures what technology was like for kids in the early 2000s. Keep reading for 16 hilarious tech references in the show that you'll definitely relate to, but be prepared to miss the good old days (everything was better when TRL was still a thing).

01
Passing Notes Was the Way Someone Asked You Out
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Passing Notes Was the Way Someone Asked You Out

"Will you be my GF or BF? Circle yes or no."

02
You Stayed Up Late Talking on Your Clear Phone
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You Stayed Up Late Talking on Your Clear Phone

Having a clear, plastic landline in your bedroom was the ultimate dream.

03
You Raced Home After School to Gossip Over the Phone
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You Raced Home After School to Gossip Over the Phone

"I can't believe she likes the Backstreet Boys over *NSYNC. I mean, who does she think she is?"

04
You Felt Very Grown Up If You Used the Fax Machine
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You Felt Very Grown Up If You Used the Fax Machine

There were very few things more exciting than an incoming fax. What would it say?! Who was it from?! THE SUSPENSE.

05
You Put SO Much Thought Into Choosing Your AIM Screen Name
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You Put SO Much Thought Into Choosing Your AIM Screen Name

Babyspice666, SoCcErGrL88, and JustinsBbabe were all highly acceptable.

06
You Got Major Butterflies When Your Crush Signed On
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You Got Major Butterflies When Your Crush Signed On

The sound of the door opening when your crush signed online was an instant adrenaline rush.

07
You Went Into Chat Rooms That You Definitely Shouldn't Have Been In
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You Went Into Chat Rooms That You Definitely Shouldn't Have Been In

You and your BFF probably said random and weird things to total strangers in a chat room. You were so edgy.

08
You Carried Your Discman Everywhere
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You Carried Your Discman Everywhere

And you made sure to have the latest Britney Spears album on hand for listening.

09
You Had Photoshoots in Your Room With a Digital Camera
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You Had Photoshoots in Your Room With a Digital Camera

Did you even buy new clothes at Limited Too if you didn't have your BFF take snapshots of you? Also, you needed some cute photos of you and your friends to put up in your locker next to your glittery, flower-shaped mirror.

10
Your Parents Captured Memories With Digital Cameras and Massive Video Recorders
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Your Parents Captured Memories With Digital Cameras and Massive Video Recorders

Once you were done getting ready for the school dance (butterfly hair clips and body glitter included), your view looked a little something like this.

11
You Made Sure Everyone Was Off the Phone So You Could Go Online
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You Made Sure Everyone Was Off the Phone So You Could Go Online

"SARAH! GET OFF THE PHONE! I WANT TO GO ON AIM!"

12
You Put Up an *Emotional* Away Message When You Did Your Homework
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You Put Up an *Emotional* Away Message When You Did Your Homework

Joey needed to know how you felt, and the lyrics to "What a Girl Wants" by Christina Aguilera were going to tell him.

13
You Recorded a Choreographed Dance Routine You Learned From Watching TRL
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You Recorded a Choreographed Dance Routine You Learned From Watching TRL

You studied those music videos like it was your job, and you and your friends definitely fought over which Spice Girl you got to be.

15
You Stalked Your Landline So You Could Finally Talk to Your Friends
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You Stalked Your Landline So You Could Finally Talk to Your Friends

You had to wait to get in contact with your friends, which made the build up all the more exciting.

16
You Prank Called Boys in Your Class
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You Prank Called Boys in Your Class

You thought the weirdest things were SO funny, and the fact that the boy and his parents had no way of knowing who was calling made it the best afterschool or sleepover activity.