Let’s take a closer look at how the high school dating scene has evolved from 1980 to 2016.
1980:
Spot a cute boy at school. Ask your friends what his name is. Spend time doodling his name, and then your name combined with his. Fantasize about his life and interests.
2016:
Notice a total hottie at school. Ask your friends about him. Google him during lunch and have your friends follow him on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
1980:
Invite friends over after school and look up his family in the phonebook. Create a smudge on the page with your thumb as you find his info. Everyone squeals as you all stare at the page.
2016:
Compare online search results at home after school. All information about your crush is shared through group text messages. The only sounds are the clicking of keyboards and the notifications of incoming texts—no one actually talks.
1980:
Pull out the yearbook and flip through the black-and-white photos of him. Memorize details about him, staring particularly at his baseball picture. Imagine cheering for him while he winks at you.
2016:
Pull up your computer and scroll through his Instagram photos. Notice he has multiple pictures in different baseball uniforms and worry that he might think you’re going to attend all his games.
1980:
Drag the rotary phone over to the couch, find his number in the smudged phonebook, and dial slowly. Hang up as soon as someone answers, relieved they can’t trace the call back to you. Repeat this process multiple times until your little brother barges in and ruins your plans.
2016:
Type his address into Google Maps to get directions from your place to his. Take a new selfie and share it on social media; after all, he might be checking out your profile too.
1980:
The next day at school, your friend, who knows his friend, asks if he has a girlfriend. You hold your breath in anticipation. Try to locate his locker so you can “accidentally” run into him while flipping through a magazine.
2016:
The next day, your friend Snapchats him mentioning that you think he’s cool. She asks if he wants to “hang out” with you, and he responds, “tell her to HMU” (hit me up). Awesome!
1980:
During lunch, your friend reports that his friend says he is single. Yes! You note that Shaun Cassidy won’t be kidnapping you in his Camaro after all. Scribble your number on a piece of spiral paper, fold it into a triangle, and pass it through your friend.
2016:
At lunch, your friend texts you his contact information. You save him as a contact with just his first name, eager to add an amazing photo of him for when he calls.
1980:
At home, you anxiously wait by the phone for his call, but your mom is on the line forever. You panic, imagining your crush getting a busy signal and losing interest. You have no way of knowing if he called—unless everyone avoids the phone.
2016:
At home, hottie texts you before his baseball practice to set up a FaceTime later that night. You get a spray tan and head to Chipotle and Starbucks, with plenty of time to kill before he calls.
1980:
He calls during dinner, and your dad tells him to ring back in an hour. You grab the phone and retreat to a closet exactly an hour later, jumping when it rings. You chat for a brief 10 minutes, repeating that you’re both “fine” and doing “nothing.” He asks you to a movie on Friday night.
2016:
As the time for his call approaches, you rearrange furniture to find the best spot for FaceTime. You want the perfect backdrop of your photo collages to show him you have a life too. He suggests hanging out on Friday, and you agree, avoiding any firm plans because that would be lame.
1980:
He’s supposed to arrive at 7 p.m. You have no way to contact him, so you wait nervously. You smooth your culottes, adjust your poncho, and apply more Cherry Lip Smacker. Finally, he arrives, and your mom embarrassingly waves goodbye from the doorway as you drive off to the tunes of Blondie.
2016:
You take photos of four different outfits and text them to your friends, wearing the one they choose. Slip $20 into your phone case for the date, and when he texts that he’s on his way, you feel ready. He updates you about traffic and finally lets you know he has arrived. You leave the house promising to text your mom with the details.
1980:
You might not know if “Caddyshack” is a good date movie, but you know it was a great date. You feel perfect together, just like Danny and Sandy in “Grease.” You can’t wait to share the details with your friends at roller skating the next day.
2016:
Your friends are tagging along on the date. When you visit the restroom, you text the few who aren’t there. You snap a selfie with your crush for Instagram, looking fabulous together, just like Brangelina. You can’t wait to see how many likes your post gets over the next 24 hours.
Despite the drastic changes in technology and communication, one aspect of teen dating remains constant: the importance of having friends as your wingmen.
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In summary, while the methods of connecting and communicating have evolved significantly from 1980 to 2016, the thrill of teenage dating and the role of friends in those experiences remain timeless.