Recently I've been revisiting YouTube videos from 2008, 2009, and 2010. On all the videos I went to there were teens/children leaving comments like "I loved this video back in the day, when I was 8!" "YouTube was better back in the day!"

2008 and 2009 don't feel that distant to me and 2010 wasn't even 10 years ago. So when these kids say "back in the day" it sounds really silly to me. Plus they're so young, it just seems odd that they're using that phrase. I will be 25 later this year and I don't even feel comfortable using this phrase yet lol. It just seems premature. I think maybe in another 5-10 years I'll start talking about how things were "back in the day." 

There are really no rules to using this phrase but in your own opinion how much time has to pass or how old should someone be or before they start saying it?

For me personally, I feel like I can get away when saying back in the day when referring to some over 20 something years ago. I don't use the phrase around boomers.  ;D

It’s not just teenagers, it’s young adults of now as well who use it. I can see why. YouTube really was bettter back in the day. ;)

Recently I've been revisiting YouTube videos from 2008, 2009, and 2010. On all the videos I went to there were teens/children leaving comments like "I loved this video back in the day, when I was 8!" "YouTube was better back in the day!"

2008 and 2009 don't feel that distant to me and 2010 wasn't even 10 years ago. So when these kids say "back in the day" it sounds really silly to me. Plus they're so young, it just seems odd that they're using that phrase. I will be 25 later this year and I don't even feel comfortable using this phrase yet lol. It just seems premature. I think maybe in another 5-10 years I'll start talking about how things were "back in the day." 

There are really no rules to using this phrase but in your own opinion how much time has to pass or how old should someone be or before they start saying it?


I would say to wait about 20-30 years.

Recently I've been revisiting YouTube videos from 2008, 2009, and 2010. On all the videos I went to there were teens/children leaving comments like "I loved this video back in the day, when I was 8!" "YouTube was better back in the day!"

2008 and 2009 don't feel that distant to me and 2010 wasn't even 10 years ago. So when these kids say "back in the day" it sounds really silly to me. Plus they're so young, it just seems odd that they're using that phrase. I will be 25 later this year and I don't even feel comfortable using this phrase yet lol. It just seems premature. I think maybe in another 5-10 years I'll start talking about how things were "back in the day." 

There are really no rules to using this phrase but in your own opinion how much time has to pass or how old should someone be or before they start saying it?

That's cute!  ;D For real though, back in the day to them would be 8 years old, it feels like forever ago by the time you're...not even high school honestly.

30-40 years ago. I feel like it’s something that 60 year olds say.

At the latest, the late 90's. 1997, 1998, 1999.

I think the most lenient of the use of the phrase ‘back in the day’ is appropriate is 20 years, and even that’s pushing it. When I think ‘back in the day’, I just picture my Boomer parents talking about their youths in the 70’s & 80’s. Not so much my childhood in the early 2000s ;D.

Minimum 20 years. Anything in the 2000s is not "back in the day".  A 50 year old talking about when they were 20 is "back in the day". An 18 year old talking about when they were 12 is not. It would sound a little silly, I think.  An 18 year old talking about when they were 8, for example, would be more "back when I was a kid" than "back in the day". But it's all a bit subjective.

Minimum 20 years. Anything in the 2000s is not "back in the day".  A 50 year old talking about when they were 20 is "back in the day". An 18 year old talking about when they were 12 is not. It would sound a little silly, I think.  An 18 year old talking about when they were 8, for example, would be more "back when I was a kid" than "back in the day". But it's all a bit subjective.

I agree 100% . I've also seen people on YouTube refer to music from the early to mid 2000s as "old school" music. :o
I would only call those songs throwbacks not old school.

There's no rule for this. It can be 2 years or it can be 30 years depending on your age.

The early 2000s is 100% back in the day

Have we established if "back in the day" is the same as "back in my day"? If so, I think people considering the early 2000s "back in the day" might be a little more hesitant (unless they weren't born yet), because "back in my day" clearly makes one sound old. 

It depends on the person you're talking to or what you're talking about. I'll use "back in the day" when talking about 2009 or 2010 with my 2005 born sister. I use "back in the day" when talking with my family about the house we used to live in 2006-2011 which we're all nostalgic for (the neighbourhood, not the years).

If I'm talking to someone twice my age I'm not going to use the word ever even if I'm talking about the late '90s haha.

Have we established if "back in the day" is the same as "back in my day"? If so, I think people considering the early 2000s "back in the day" might be a little more hesitant (unless they weren't born yet), because "back in my day" clearly makes one sound old.

in middle school/high in early 2000s

Have we established if "back in the day" is the same as "back in my day"? If so, I think people considering the early 2000s "back in the day" might be a little more hesitant (unless they weren't born yet), because "back in my day" clearly makes one sound old.

I consider those two phrases to be different. "Back in my day" is more personal and lenient imo.

I would say to wait about 20-30 years.
At least that length of time, may be 40+ years, I would say. I have used "back in my day" for that period of time before.

I always say "back in the day" for something as little as 10 years ago.

I always say "back in the day" for something as little as 10 years ago.


Be mindful who you say that around because to me 2008 is definitely not a "back in the day" ;D

I remember when my 1997 born friend talked about Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008 video game) as "back then" in 2017 and that just made me realize how young he was ;D

I really think it's purely age dependant. I wouldn't talk about the late '90s as "back in the day" if I was talking to someone who is 60 and was 40 back then. If I was talking to someone who was 25-30, then I think it's more appropriate.

For me, anything 2012 and earlier counts as ‘back in my day’ my life was very different.

It's a phrase that should only be used for pre-2000 years.

The late 80's??  ???

30-40 years ago. I feel like it’s something that 60 year olds say.


or "back in my day".  ;D

I read this and someone I know instantly comes to mind. He uses 'Back in the Day' to describe things that happened as little as 4/3 years ago  ;D

I read this and someone I know instantly comes to mind. He uses 'Back in the Day' to describe things that happened as little as 4/3 years ago  ;D

lol I would cringe every time he said that.

lol I would cringe every time he said that.

I wouldn't. I did that too at one point when I was younger.

I wouldn't. I did that too at one point when I was younger back in the day.


How fast does your life change where what you were 2-3 years ago was so different? :P

or "back in my day".  ;D


"Back in my day" better be something pre-1980 or else it's going to be a huge eye roll from me. Also I can't believe 1980 is almost 40 years ago.

How fast does your life change where what you were 2-3 years ago was so different? :P

When I was 13, looking back at when I was 10 was "back in the day" for me. Now it is everything before age 14. It all depends on one's age.

I wouldn't. I did that too at one point when I was younger.


We all say that when we're discussing nostalgia.

9 years

Like Slowpoke said multiple times in this thread, it's all context-based and dependent on who you're talking to. "Back in the Day" can be used when you're talking to a kid, but not to someone twice your age.

When speaking to someone of the same age, "back in our day" is said.

I just use "Back Then".

IMO, anyone under the age of 40 who says "back in the day" deserves no credibility.

IMO, anyone under the age of 40 who says "back in the day" deserves no credibility.

Anyone under 30 imo.

I'm 21 and I use when I'm talking to kids serveal years younger when talking about my childhood because it just blows my mind how techonolgy is so intergrated with today's teens compared to when I was a teen. When I was in high school nobody used  ipads in the classroom, everyone owned a fliphone  at some point in our lives, and we witness the transtion between sd and hd.

At least 25-30 years.

IMO, anyone under the age of 40 who says "back in the day" deserves no credibility.



What about if you're over the age of 40? ???

What about if you're over the age of 40? ???
Please refer to my above reply.

Depressive.

From the way they sound now, I don't want the 2000s to be "Back in the day" or "old school" I agree with you. I like throwback and even classic.

Depressive.

From the way they sound now, I don't want the 2000s to be "Back in the day" or "old school" I agree with you. I like throwback and even classic.


there are many y2k stations on sirus

Anyone under 30 imo.


My 16 year old son said it the other day, but to be fair to him he was talking about something that happened to the ancient Greeks!

I recently saw someone refer to 2011 as back in the day. It kinda bothers me because my high school days were not "back in the day."

Well for me 2011 is back in the day. Even 2013 seems like ages ago for me. Since then I've lived in 3 other countries in 4 different cities (and 6 different homes), visited 4 other countries, got a Master's degree, changed 2 jobs, lost my virginity, went hiking for the first time, watched my second movie at the cinema since the early 2000s, did a sleepover for the first time in my life, got on a boat for the first time, saw a castle for the first time, my dad changed 3 cars since then, etc. So yeah, even though I'm 30 for me 2011 certainly is back in the day.

20 years seems like the right amount, i use "back in " not back in the day. Plus i can't really say back in the day since i'm only 14 but it depends a 21 year old can refer 2007 as back in the day because he was 10 in that year.