We all remember having that one Best Friend Forever (BFF) growing up in the ’90s—someone to chat with late into the night, share gossip about our strict parents, and even plan matching outfits. While the dynamics of friendship have changed over the years, some things remain the same: we still enjoy late-night phone calls and share juicy secrets. We still coordinate outfits too, but now we just pretend it was a happy coincidence. Honestly, not much has changed; we’ve just grown older and swapped out slushies for wine!
Best friends are like the siblings we either never had or didn’t quite get along with. Siblings might have swiped our favorite toys or worn our training bras on their heads (true story for some), but our best friends were there for prank calls and shoulder cries 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 from the ’90s and now—even if things have shifted a bit.
In the ’90s: Your BFF swore she’d take care of your digital pet while you were on vacation, but then she let it die. After that, it was hard to look at her the same way again!
Today: Adults don’t really argue like we used to. Now, we leave passive-aggressive comments on Facebook and intentionally avoid liking each other’s Instagram posts.
In the ’90s: Before smartphones, resolving a fight with your BFF often meant passing a note in class filled with frown faces, dotting your i’s with hearts to show just how sad you were without her, and finishing it off with “LYLAS”—“love you like a sis,” just in case she needed a reminder.
Now: The peace offering usually comes in the form of a $12 Starbucks coffee and a smiling selfie of the two of you to leave the past behind.
In the ’90s: We’d hit the mall to grab fake nose rings from Claire’s before sneaking into an R-rated movie. We were such little rebels!
In the ’90s: We’d hit the mall to grab fake nose rings from Claire’s before sneaking into an R-rated movie. We were such little rebels!
Now: Who even goes out anymore? Not us! Just give us something to binge-watch on Netflix and a bottle (or two) of wine, and we’re all set. Can you say FriYAY?
In the ’90s: After determining who your soulmate was with the all-powerful cootie catcher, you’d orchestrate a chance encounter in science class while your BFF kept other girls at bay.
Today: Every BFF knows that the secret to finding true love is spending 14 hours scouring Facebook with just his middle name as your only lead!
In the ’90s: Life was all about gathering 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 other person to do the Single Ladies dance, but since you’re not really a people person these days, your BFF is more than enough!