This is my opinion but 2013/2014 felt different from the rest of the 2010s, especially the late 2010s. Late 2013 and Early 2014 is closer to 2009 than 2019.

1. The SJW vs Alt-Right drama didn't exist, it was a carefree environment with no Tumblr SJWs and Alt Right Trolls. Donald Trump was viewed as an old billionaire who was irrelvant for the most part and people only cared about him because he was in The Apprentice.

2. Most of the EDM in this period leaned towards the early 2010s sound. If you hear songs like Animals, #Selfie, Under Control, Wake Me Up, Summer, A Sky Full of Stars, and What Does The Fox Say, you could tell that these songs use heavy synthesizers and bass that are very reminiscent of early 2010s EDM. The Tropical House trend wasn't a thing at all until Firestone and Cheerleader became hits in mid 2015. The transitional period between  the Progressive House and Tropical House trend was Deep House in late 2014/early 2015.

3. While Instagram and Vine was very popular, Snapchat was still a novelty. People viewed Snapchat as just the "Gone in 24 hours" social media, people got real bored with it real quickly. It wasn't until the filters that was released in Sept. 2015 that made Snapchat a cultural juggernaut, especially with the puppy and rainbow barf filters. This period was also the last hurrah for young people using Facebook, no one was using Facebook anymore at the start of the 2014/2015 school year.

4. Many artists that were in their prime in the 2000s had hits as well. Eminem had a #1 hit with The Monster, Lady Gaga had her last top ten hit with Applause, Pharrell Williams with Happy, Katy Perry had two #1 hits, Beyonce and Jay Z almost reached #1 with Drunk In Love, Chris Brown and Lil Wayne had a top ten hit with Loyal, Jay Z had a top 5 hit with Timberlake with Holy Grail.

5. Pop music felt very different from 2015/2016. Most of the production in pop music had an upbeat and happy vibe to it. People say Royals changed the pop landscape but not really in this period. Songs like Timber, Happy, Talk Dirty, Dark Horse, Neon Lights, Problem, Burn still reign in pop music. The vibe of late 2015 and early 2016 had a downbeat and depressing vibe to it, which I didn't mind.

6. The ironic edgelord dank meme culture didn't exist at the time. The memes in late 2013 and early 2014 had a silly, goofy, and innocent vibe to it, the memes had more in common with memes of 2012 than 2015.

7. Trap music wasn't mainstream yet. Yes, Turn Down For What is Trap, but it's the most Trap of this time. The Hip Hop also sounded different. You hear songs like Gas Pedal and Don't Drop That Thun Thun Thun, both are Snap songs. The Hyphy sound with Loyal, My Ni**a, Show Me was popular. Even Trap rap songs like 23 and Stoner are so dated in 2016-2019 Trap standards.

8. Rock was more mainstream than it is today. Let Her Go, Best Day of My Life, Ain't It Fun, Pompeii, Demons, She Looks So Perfect. Sweater Weather, Counting Stars were all rock songs that very huge in 2013/2014. Even One Direction had rock elements in their songs.

9. This was the last time where there were only 90s borns in high schools and there were no 2000s borns. The Class of 2014 were mid 90s born (1995/1996). Pop culture leaned more Millennial than Gen Z.

10. Fashion was way different than it is today. Most guys didn't have undercuts like you see with many guys today. Look at these videos of high school youth that showcases what fashion looked like in this time and you'll notice the difference:

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It was a fun time! It felt like we were 90% in the mid-2010s. I remember people going crazy for artists like Iggy Azalea, Ariana Grande, Jason Derulo, Charli XCX, Beyonce, Meghan Trainor, Nicki Minaj, and more! It was soo fun, I remember first being disappointed about IOS 7, but after a month of getting used to it, I felt like it paid off, and I remember going to malls and seeing android phones that had phone screens ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 Inches. Songs were about butts, however, but it was hilarious. And songs were influenced by Vine, Lele Pons, The Paul Brother's early career, Nash Grier, and other vines were popular.

All the Trap music you had was Turn Down For What, Flawless, Drunk in love, etc. It wasnt hip hop yet. Hip hop wise, snap, and the DJ mustard sound was hot during the time. Everything felt brand new, unlike the generic feeling of today.

I wouldn't really call "Gas Pedal" snap at all, it's too dark and ominous for such a lighthearted genre and there is too much going on in that production.

It's a hyphy song associated with the Jerkin' dance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerkin%27

That period might actually be my least favorite period in the 2010s. The late 00s to early 2010s for me was like a high while 2013 was like a comedown. 2014 was that depression stage where you realize your high has officially ended.

That period might actually be my least favorite period in the 2010s. The late 00s to early 2010s for me was like a high while 2013 was like a comedown. 2014 was that depression stage where you realize your high has officially ended.

2013 was a very transitional year. It felt like the Early 2010s and Mid 2010s at the same time, with Mid 2010s culture coming in and Early 2010s culture coming off the door. It felt fun and weird at the same time

2013 was a very transitional year. It felt like the Early 2010s and Mid 2010s at the same time, with Mid 2010s culture coming in and Early 2010s culture coming off the door. It felt fun and weird at the same time


2013/2014 were my favourites. It was whacky and didn't take itself seriously but at the same time was more refined than the early 2010s. The men's hairstyles those two years were on point.  :-X

2013 was a very transitional year. It felt like the Early 2010s and Mid 2010s at the same time, with Mid 2010s culture coming in and Early 2010s culture coming off the door. It felt fun and weird at the same time


What's mind blowing is that 2013 is closer to 2008 than we are in 2019  :o

What's mind blowing is that 2013 is closer to 2008 than we are in 2019  :o


Not really that mind blowing. Up until 2015/2016 you saw people (including me) on this forum saying that 2009 (and late 2008) doesn't feel that different from today. :P

This was the starting period of the cultural mid 2010s for sure. I remember Pharell was all the rage. This was the first time I personally heard of Snap Chat (but I know it existed and may have been popular before this). Pretty fun time. I turned 19 at this time. It kind of feels like a long time ago but kinda feels recent at the same time, kinda weird in that way.

This was the starting period of the cultural mid 2010s for sure. I remember Pharell was all the rage. This was the first time I personally heard of Snap Chat (but I know it existed and may have been popular before this). Pretty fun time. I turned 19 at this time. It kind of feels like a long time ago but kinda feels recent at the same time, kinda weird in that way.


It was mid 2010s, there were also a lot of early 2010s leftovers. 2013/2014 is mid 2010s with early 2010s influence, 2014/2015 is pure mid 2010s, and 2015/2016 is mid 2010s with late 2010s influence.

It was mid 2010s, there were also a lot of early 2010s leftovers. 2013/2014 is mid 2010s with early 2010s influence, 2014/2015 is pure mid 2010s, and 2015/2016 is mid 2010s with late 2010s influence.

Of course there were leftovers. But I see it as the start of mid 2010s, 2014 - 2015 school year being pure mid 2010s, and 2015/2016 being the start of the late 2010s. The mid 2010s pretty much died by summer of 2016. It was a very short era.

That period might actually be my least favorite period in the 2010s. The late 00s to early 2010s for me was like a high while 2013 was like a comedown. 2014 was that depression stage where you realize your high has officially ended.

2014 seems to be hated by many. I think too people dreaded that first wave of the DJ mustard era.

It's weird I didn't like 2014 while it was going on especially after 2013 being so fun but looking back I can see how good 2014 was especially compared to most of the other years in the decade. I also say the same about 2016 which I though sucked while it was going on but compared to 2018 for example, 2016 was an amazing year.

Not really that mind blowing. Up until 2015/2016 you saw people (including me) on this forum saying that 2009 (and late 2008) doesn't feel that different from today. :P
How about the fact that 2010 is closer to 2002 than today ;D?

2014 seems to be hated by many. I think too people dreaded that first wave of the DJ mustard era.


That era was also the era of all the unarmed black male shootings so that also got me down. Plus Obama had kind of a lackluster second term.

I think there were more pop culture events in late 2013 that Millennials and early Generation Zers cared about than those of early 2014. There wasn’t as much late Generation Zer and early Generation Alpha culture around in late 2013 as there was in 2014.

I think there were more pop culture events in late 2013 that Millennials and early Generation Zers cared about than those of early 2014. There wasn’t as much late Generation Zer and early Generation Alpha culture around in late 2013 as there was in 2014.


Um, Late Gen Z and Gen Alpha were children and babies in 2014.

Um, Late Gen Z and Gen Alpha were children and babies in 2014.


haha. I thought something seemed off about that statement in the back of my head. I always felt like 2013 is when pop music culture was officially handed over to the late millennials.

How about the fact that 2010 is closer to 2002 than today ;D?


Not in duodecimal *stays in denial*

Um, Late Gen Z and Gen Alpha were children and babies in 2014.


Not all Gen Alphas were babies in 2014. Some of them were ages 3 to 4.

Not all Gen Alphas were babies in 2014. Some of them were ages 3 to 4.

The oldest turned 1 in 2014.

The oldest turned 1 in 2014.


McCrindle says Alphas have been born since 2010.

Not all Gen Alphas were babies in 2014. Some of them were ages 3 to 4.


There was no such thing as Gen Alpha culture in 2014. They don't even have an identity yet, they're just children. Pop culture in 2013/2014 catered towards Late Millennials.

There was no such thing as Gen Alpha culture in 2014. They don't even have an identity yet, they're just children. Pop culture in 2013/2014 catered towards Late Millennials.


So children born at the beginning of the 2010s in 2013 and 2014 were not aware of Disney’s Frozen and Flappy Bird at all?

So children born at the beginning of the 2010s in 2013 and 2014 were not aware of Disney’s Frozen and Flappy Bird at all?


Everyone was playing Flappy Bird and watching Frozen, it's not only a Gen Alpha thing. You have to wait until Gen Alpha become teens/young adults to form their true identity.

McCrindle says Alphas have been born since 2010.

Alpha 2013-2028

Not all Gen Alphas were babies in 2014. Some of them were ages 3 to 4.

Gen Alpha doesn't even exist yet.

Alpha 2013-2028

No way. Gen Y ends in 2000. So the usual 20 year cycle would mean Gen Z ends in 2020. 2020 as a start to the new generation also sounds right (like 2000 for Gen Z). You can give or take a year or two. But either way 2013 is wayyyy too early for generation Alpha. Unless you are one of those people who think Gen Y ended in 1995. Which I wholeheartedly disagree with.

No way. Gen Y ends in 2000. So the usual 20 year cycle would mean Gen Z ends in 2020. 2020 as a start to the new generation also sounds right (like 2000 for Gen Z). You can give or take a year or two. But either way 2013 is wayyyy too early for generation Alpha. Unless you are one of those people who think Gen Y ended in 1995. Which I wholeheartedly disagree with.


It's about 16 years. Gen X/Y cut off was around 1981, Y/Z was around 1997, so Z/A is around 2013. One of the first highlights of the new generation is Baby Shark, lol. Also in the US Trump is the first president they'll remember.

Anyhow the late 2013 and early 2014 period was my least favorite of this decade, at least in my personal life. Things started to get better in the later part of 2014.

The generation discussions are getting more ridiculous by the day. We have now reached the level where we try to seperate babies/toddlers/children based on... I don't even know what.

Gen Alpha doesn't even exist yet.


Millennials aren’t having children in this decade?

So children born at the beginning of the 2010s in 2013 and 2014 were not aware of Disney’s Frozen and Flappy Bird at all?


I actually went to a summer camp in 2016, and there was this 5 year old girl (most likely born 2010) who did not know the lyrics to Let It Go and did not know what Frozen was. I even had a meltdown about this in the "A new way of defining generations" thread ;D

Anyways, at this point 2013/2014 has more in common with the culture of 2008/2009 rather than 2019. Does anyone feel that way?

I actually went to a summer camp in 2016, and there was this 5 year old girl (most likely born 2010) who did not know the lyrics to Let It Go and did not know what Frozen was. I even had a meltdown about this in the "A new way of defining generations" thread ;D


You mean this old aesthetic?

http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=52421.0

Commencé par moi?  ;).

Years later though, I now kind of regret. Especially with toxic generationology had become. However, it has calmed in the last year or so, thats good :(.

You mean this old aesthetic?

http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=52421.0

Commencé par moi?  ;).

Years later though, I now kind of regret. Especially with toxic generationology had become. However, it has calmed in the last year or so, thats good :(.


If I'm counting correctly that thread has almost 2000 posts. What a behemoth! I wonder how much of that was me meeting people born on random years and adjusting my generation theories accordingly.

Everyone was playing Flappy Bird and watching Frozen, it's not only a Gen Alpha thing. You have to wait until Gen Alpha become teens/young adults to form their true identity.


What is the true identity of Xennials? Are they defined by gangsta rap and seeing movies like Reality Bites over and over again when it was on cable?

Anyways, at this point 2013/2014 has more in common with the culture of 2008/2009 rather than 2019. Does anyone feel that way?


I don't think it has much in common with either one, but I believe 2013/14 has more in common with 2016 than 2012.

I don't think it has much in common with either one, but I believe 2013/14 has more in common with 2016 than 2012.


How so? 2013/2014 is closer to 2012 than 2016. The SJW and Alt Right groups weren't mainstream. The music has a more upbeat atmosphere than 2016. The memes weren't edgy dank memes.

Millennials aren’t having children in this decade?

Their children are Gen Z.

I don't think it has much in common with either one, but I believe 2013/14 has more in common with 2016 than 2012.

I strongly disagree with that.

Anyways, at this point 2013/2014 has more in common with the culture of 2008/2009 rather than 2019. Does anyone feel that way?

Yes you could say that. But nothing is drastically different either way. This decade was very consistent from start to finish.

What is the true identity of Xennials? Are they defined by gangsta rap and seeing movies like Reality Bites over and over again when it was on cable?

My sister was born in '85 and she doesn't consider herself a Millennial. She might be an Xennial. As far I remember Reality Bites was about Gen X College Grads in '94. The oldest Xennial would of been age 17 (1977 born) at the time.

Their children are Gen Z.


All of them are Gen Z?

Their children are Gen Z.


At least the youngest ones are. Most of them belong to Gen X.

At least the youngest ones are. Most of them belong to Gen X.


So the youngest children to come from Millennials will be Alphas?

I barely hear anything about Generation Z aside from these forums let alone Generation Alpha. Everyone still talks about millennials. Millennial has become synonymous with young person still, even if that young person isn't a millennial.

How so? 2013/2014 is closer to 2012 than 2016. The SJW and Alt Right groups weren't mainstream. The music has a more upbeat atmosphere than 2016. The memes weren't edgy dank memes.


Ehh, 2013/14 has more in common with 2016 because:
-Vine was still relevant
-Vine stars like the Paul brothers and Lele Pons were still on the rise
-Instagram and Snapchat
-Trap still had that pop vibe with Trap EDM
-iOS 7 till iOS 9 had identical visual languages, while iOS 10 started getting more bubblier
-YouTubers like FouseyTube, Jenna Marbles, Roman Atwood, Jacksepticeye, Markiplier, Pewdiepie, etc. were still very dominant, 2017 started seeing some changes here with Dude Perfect and the Paul Brothers.
-Artists like Meghan Trainor, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, etc. were still dominant
-Yes, Disney was different, as Frozen wasnt as relevant in 2016, but mid 2010s Disney/Pixar movies was at it's Apex.
-Games like GTA 5, Minecraft, Garry's Mod, TF2 were dominant before the Battle Royale era took off in Summer 2017.
-Fifth Harmony and One Direction were still relevant (They both split in 2016 but were still popular)

I do somewhat agree, there are some parts  like 2014 EDM being different from 2016, but late 2014 was when Mid 2010s culture was fully developed. I'd say its decline started in Late 2016 because of the start of the school year, and the mid 2010s feeling was gone as far as Late 2018.

The mid 2010s was done away with the moment the Brexit vote happened.

I agree 2013/14 had much more in common with 2016 than whatever came before. Fashion was in a very similar state, the meme culture was fully mainstream, the Netflix binge-watching culture was now a hallmark of viewer's consumption, the flat UI takes over, Trap was already creeping into the most popular Pop music, and so on.

The transition from the early 2010s to the mid 2010s was very changeful. More so than most people want to admit.


-Yes, Disney was different, as Frozen wasnt as relevant in 2016

How so??? If anything Frozen was probably even more relevant in 2016 than before. The Elsa/Spiderman thing sparked a huge controversy on YouTube, which led the site to completely revamp their kid section.

How so? 2013/2014 is closer to 2012 than 2016. The SJW and Alt Right groups weren't mainstream. The music has a more upbeat atmosphere than 2016. The memes weren't edgy dank memes.


Early 2013 might have been more like 2012 and a few years before, which was the David Guetta era of EDM. In the later half the musical styles started to change. There was teen pop and hip-hop started to become mainstream again, like with Kendrick Lamar. It wasn't blended with EDM like a lot of Chris Brown tracks that were produced by David Guetta in the early 10's. Future started the mumble rap trend. SJW might not have been active yet, but the roots were planted with the Ferguson incident in 2014, and in 2013 was the Treyvon Martin/George Zimmerman incident. Both led to the BLM movement.

I barely hear anything about Generation Z aside from these forums let alone Generation Alpha. Everyone still talks about millennials. Millennial has become synonymous with young person still, even if that young person isn't a millennial.


You’ll hear more about Generation Z in the next decade and Generation Alpha in the 2030s.

I agree 2013/14 had much more in common with 2016 than whatever came before. Fashion was in a very similar state, the meme culture was fully mainstream, the Netflix binge-watching culture was now a hallmark of viewer's consumption, the flat UI takes over, Trap was already creeping into the most popular Pop music, and so on.

The transition from the early 2010s to the mid 2010s was very changeful. More so than most people want to admit.
How so??? If anything Frozen was probably even more relevant in 2016 than before. The Elsa/Spiderman thing sparked a huge controversy on YouTube, which led the site to completely revamp their kid section.


The first half of 2013 felt more like 2011/2012, Late 2013/2014 does have more in common with 2016, but definitely not 2017-2019. The culture of 2017, which had it's roots in 2016, is the current culture we are in right now.

Early 2013 might have been more like 2012 and a few years before, which was the David Guetta era of EDM. In the later half the musical styles started to change. There was teen pop and hip-hop started to become mainstream again, like with Kendrick Lamar. It wasn't blended with EDM like a lot of Chris Brown tracks that were produced by David Guetta in the early 10's. Future started the mumble rap trend. SJW might not have been active yet, but the roots were planted with the Ferguson incident in 2014, and in 2013 was the Treyvon Martin/George Zimmerman incident. Both led to the BLM movement.


Pop scene in the first half of 2013 is different from the second half of 2013:

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I'd say the transition from the Electropop Era Part 2/Early 2010s to the Mid 2010s would be October 2012 to November 2013.

Early 2013 still feels very 2012, electropop was still around, as shown by the videos from mc98. I'll have to agree with him, Late 2013 is when the Mid 2010s truly started. Although the Electropop feeling was gone by Late July/Early August, equivalent to the ending of the Y2K era in August 2001, and New Wave era in August 1986.

I'd say the transition from the Electropop Era Part 2/Early 2010s to the Mid 2010s would be October 2012 to November 2013.

Early 2013 still feels very 2012, electropop was still around, as shown by the videos from mc98. I'll have to agree with him, Late 2013 is when the Mid 2010s truly started. Although the Electropop feeling was gone by Late July/Early August, equivalent to the ending of the Y2K era in August 2001, and New Wave era in August 1986.

No way all of 2012 was still 100% early 2010s. The transition from the early 2010s to mid 2010s started in early 2013 around February/March. 2013 still had a lot of early 2010s culture but the year was definitely transitional and we saw a lot new culture coming in that year. The transition ending and starting point of the mid 2010s in my opinion occured in the fall of 2013 around October. But 2014 was the first actual mid 2010s year. 2013 was very much a unique year. Summer 2013 for example wasn't mid or early 2010s, it had it's own culture like one era only in the summer. I've never seen anything like it before but the year was very unique with it's own culture.

No way all of 2012 was still 100% early 2010s. The transition from the early 2010s to mid 2010s started in early 2013 around February/March. 2013 still had a lot of early 2010s culture but the year was definitely transitional and we saw a lot new culture coming in that year. The transition ending and starting point of the mid 2010s in my opinion occured in the fall of 2013 around October. But 2014 was the first actual mid 2010s year. 2013 was very much a unique year. Summer 2013 for example wasn't mid or early 2010s, it had it's own culture like one era only in the summer. I've never seen anything like it before but the year was very unique with it's own culture.


2013 was indeed the most unique year of the 2010s.

2013 was indeed the most unique year of the 2010s.

I agree in 2013 I had no idea where the decade was going and was pretty excited (but got let down when I saw where culture was in 2014). But 2013 felt like the brink of something new and exciting that I had no idea what was to come. If only that unique culture of 2013 continued. 2013 was by far the best year of this decade, every other year pales in comparison. It was so fun and carefree as well. The whole depressing politics and violence of this decade really started in 2014, and escalated in 2016.

I agree in 2013 I had no idea where the decade was going and was pretty excited (but got let down when I saw where culture was in 2014). But 2013 felt like the brink of something new and exciting that I had no idea what was to come. If only that unique culture of 2013 continued. 2013 was by far the best year of this decade, every other year pales in comparison. It was so fun and carefree as well. The whole depressing politics and violence of this decade really started in 2014, and escalated in 2016.


Usually, years that end with 3 are the most exciting and unique part of the decade.

Usually, years that end with 3 are the most exciting and unique part of the decade.


That’s in the eye of the beholder.

I barely hear anything about Generation Z aside from these forums let alone Generation Alpha. Everyone still talks about millennials. Millennial has become synonymous with young person still, even if that young person isn't a millennial.


This is becoming less and less of the case but for the most part, this is true...and annoying as hell. Calling any under 20 millennial is a great way to indicate your basicness.

This is becoming less and less of the case but for the most part, this is true...and annoying as hell. Calling any under 20 millennial is a great way to indicate your basicness.

It's usually the media saying those in their teens and early 20s are Millennials. It gets really frustrating when they do that.

Yeah, I'd have to agree that 2013 was a very fun and unique year. It just felt like the transition started in late 2012.

It’s hard for me to say if late 2013 was close to 2009 and early 2014 sides more with 2019. This year obviously isn’t over yet.

@OP

Was late 2013 more “10s” to you than early 2014? We’re both parts of those years equally “10s”?

It’s hard for me to say if late 2013 was close to 2009 and early 2014 sides more with 2019. This year obviously isn’t over yet.

@OP

Was late 2013 more “10s” to you than early 2014? We’re both parts of those years equally “10s”?


Obviously, both are 10s equally. What I'm trying to say is that 2013/2014 shares more similarities with 2009 than 2019.  2003/2004 had a much different culture compared to 2009.

Obviously, both are 10s equally. What I'm trying to say is that 2013/2014 shares more similarities with 2009 than 2019.  2003/2004 had a much different culture compared to 2009.


Very early 2010s borns had more of a cultural identity in 2014 than the years of the 2010s prior to it. From my point of view, 2014 is much closer to 2019 than 2009.

I also actually really think 2019 is closer to 2013 and 2014 than they are to 2009 just by virtue that 2010 and 2013 were both real game changers for a lot of things and 2009 predates those, and even the changes of 2016 wouldn't really able to outshine those.

I also actually really think 2019 is closer to 2013 and 2014 than they are to 2009 just by virtue that 2010 and 2013 were both real game changers for a lot of things and 2009 predates those, and even the changes of 2016 wouldn't really able to outshine those.


Jan-Sept 2013 still has that early 2010s vibe. Most of big changes happened around Fall 2013. Even if 2013/2014 is closer to 2019, most of the culture trends in those years are dated in today's standard, excluding the Netflix-streaming and Instagram. Almost every popular song from 2013-2014 wouldn't see the light of day in 2019.