Some memories never leave the minds of ’90s kids.

Maybe it’s hearing the sound of a dial-up modem. Maybe it’s spotting an old VHS tape or remembering the excitement of renting a movie on a Friday night. Whatever it is, certain things have a way of sending you straight back to childhood.

Growing up in the ’90s felt different in ways that are hard to explain. We spent hours outside without thinking twice about it, raced home to catch our favorite cartoons, and somehow managed to survive without smartphones. At the time, it was just normal life. Looking back, though, it’s easy to see why so many people feel nostalgic for it.

What I find funny is how many of those memories seem to be universal. Mention a school computer lab, a Tamagotchi, or the struggle of getting kicked off the internet because someone needed the phone, and suddenly, everyone has a story to tell. Even people who grew up hundreds or thousands of miles apart often remember the same things.

That’s probably the reason ’90s memes are still everywhere. They’re not just jokes. They’re little reminders of a specific moment in time, and for a lot of people, they bring back memories they hadn’t thought about in years.