We all remember having that one Best Friend Forever (BFF) when growing up in the ’90s—someone we’d have late-night phone calls with, gossip about how strict our parents were, and even coordinate outfits together. When comparing best friends in the ’90s to today, a lot has changed, but some fundamentals stay the same: we still spend late nights on the phone with our BFFs and gossip with them. We also coordinate outfits but pretend it was a total accident. Honestly, things aren’t that different; we’re just older and drink more wine.
Best friends are like the siblings we either never had or didn’t get along with. While siblings might have stolen our favorite toys and run around outside with our training bra on their head (true story for some), our best friends were the ones we made prank calls with and cried on their shoulder when we saw our crush holding hands with someone else on the playground. We wouldn’t be who we are today without our best friends, both back in the ’90s and now, even if things have changed a bit.
1. The Fights We Get Into
In the ’90s: Your BFF totally promised to take care of your digital pet while you were on vacation, and then she let it die. You couldn’t look at her the same way afterward.
Today: Adults don’t really fight anymore. Instead, we leave passive-aggressive comments on Facebook and purposely don’t like each other’s Instagram posts.
2. How We Make Up Afterward
In the ’90s: This was the pre-smartphone era, so getting through a fight with your BFF often involved passing a note in class, filled with frown faces, dotting the i’s with hearts so she knew how sad you were without her, and ending it with “LYLAS” — “love you like a sis,” for those who forgot.
Now: The peace offering usually involves a $12 Starbucks coffee and a smiling selfie of you two together to put the past behind you.
3. Friday Night Entertainment
In the ’90s: We’d go to the mall and buy fake nose rings from Claire’s, just before sneaking into an R-rated movie. We were such rebels.
Now: Who goes out anymore? Not us. Give us something on Netflix to binge-watch and a bottle (or two) of wine, and we’re good to go. Can you say FriYAY?
4. Playing Wingwoman
In the ’90s: After deciding who the love of your life was using the almighty cootie catcher, you’d stage a run-in during science class while your BFF kept other girls away.
Today: Every BFF knows the way to help you find lasting love is by spending 14 hours searching for him on Facebook with nothing but his middle name.
5. Squad Goals
In the ’90s: Life was all about finding a few more girls as cool as you so you could pretend to be the Spice Girls.
Now: The good news is you only need one more person to do the Single Ladies dance, but you’re not much of a people person these days, so your BFF is more than enough.