Currently, a new trend of using small picture-taking devices has resurfaced in popularity, especially among the younger generation. These are known as digital cameras, and are actually not recent at all, with people in the early 2000s going crazy over them as well. This example of old technology is popular right now for several reasons, including social media, nostalgia, and style.

What’s all the hype about anyway? What makes these out-of-date gadgets so inviting that they have become an “essential” for events, when many phone apps already exist to improve snapshot quality? Gen Z’s goal for photos is not for them to turn out perfect, focused and crisp. Instead, grainy, blurry and nostalgic-feeling pictures set the new standard.

Nowadays, teenagers like to romanticize the early 2000s; they dream of being born in the 1990s and reliving the early digital age that most of their parents grew up with.

“I started using mine when my mom gave me my grandma’s old little digital camera,” notes freshman Lucena Pamplona. She explains why it’s appealing to her: “They’re small and portable, and there’s just something nostalgic about them.”

Smartphones were made to stop the hassle of using these old devices. Taking out plug adapters, importing SD cards into the computer and downloading each photo are just some of the many steps needed to be able to use them. Despite these challenges, teens tolerate the process for their final result.

The overall feedback is that these digital cameras are not meant for capturing perfect images of memories, but more for the retro look and pleasing aesthetic. When the photo that grabs their attention is found, they can post it on their social media platforms, all the while knowing that it captures their style.