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).
"Will you be my GF or BF? Circle yes or no."
Having a clear, plastic landline in your bedroom was the ultimate dream.
"I can't believe she likes the Backstreet Boys over *NSYNC. I mean, who does she think she is?"
There were very few things more exciting than an incoming fax. What would it say?! Who was it from?! THE SUSPENSE.
Babyspice666, SoCcErGrL88, and JustinsBbabe were all highly acceptable.
The sound of the door opening when your crush signed online was an instant adrenaline rush.
You and your BFF probably said random and weird things to total strangers in a chat room. You were so edgy.
And you made sure to have the latest Britney Spears album on hand for listening.
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.
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.
"SARAH! GET OFF THE PHONE! I WANT TO GO ON AIM!"
Joey needed to know how you felt, and the lyrics to "What a Girl Wants" by Christina Aguilera were going to tell him.
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.
It probably made really obnoxious noises to wake you up for school.
You had to wait to get in contact with your friends, which made the build up all the more exciting.
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.