Imagine it’s Christmas Day in 1998. You’re sitting on the floor, surrounded by wrapping paper and new toys. Your sister is trying out blue eyeshadow, and you can hear the Beastie Boys playing from your brother’s new Sony Walkman. You’ve already eaten six Christmas cookies, and it’s not even 10 a.m. Suddenly, a group of federal agents bursts through the door. They aren’t interested in you, but they take your Furby, claiming it’s a matter of National Security. Sounds wild, right? Well, the government didn’t actually take kids’ Furbies, but they did worry that these toys could be a security threat. Let’s dive into some misconceptions from the ’90s!
In 1997, David Hampton and Caleb Chung created a toy called Furby, which could “talk” a little bit. It became super popular by 1998. However, people started to believe that Furbies could record conversations, which wasn’t true. The National Security Agency (NSA) even banned Furbies from their headquarters, fearing they might overhear secrets. But the president of Tiger Electronics, Roger Schiffman, assured everyone that Furbies couldn’t record or mimic voices. They were just fun toys, not spies!
Some people also worried that Furbies might mess with medical equipment or airplane instruments. The FAA banned them during takeoff and landing just in case. Another rumor was that Furby fur came from pets, but it was actually made of acrylic.
In 1995, O.J. Simpson was on trial, and a big moment was when he tried on a pair of gloves that didn’t fit well. His lawyer famously said, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” and the jury found him not guilty. But the trial wasn’t just about the gloves. There were issues with how evidence was collected, and the police made mistakes at the crime scene. The gloves became a symbol of the prosecution’s problems, but they weren’t the only reason for the verdict.
As the year 2000 approached, people worried that computers would think it was 1900 because many systems used two-digit years. This could cause big problems, so companies worked hard to fix it. When January 2000 arrived, nothing major happened, and the fears seemed overblown, though there were a few minor glitches.
Some people think a ’90s kid is anyone born in that decade, while others believe it’s someone who grew up during those years. The term “90s kid” isn’t the same as “Millennial,” which refers to people born between 1981 and 1996. Even after the ’90s ended, many things from that time, like Dunkaroos, stuck around for a while.
In 1999, Al Gore mentioned his role in creating the internet, and people made fun of him. He probably meant that he helped get government funding for its development. The internet wasn’t invented by one person; it was a group effort, with contributions from many, including Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn.
Many people think Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are identical twins, but they’re actually fraternal twins. This means they came from two separate eggs and share only half their genes, so they look as similar as any other siblings close in age.
That’s it for our look at ’90s misconceptions! If you have ideas for more topics, feel free to share them. Thanks for reading!
Design a colorful poster that highlights one of the misconceptions from the ’90s discussed in the article. Use images and short descriptions to explain the misconception and the truth behind it. Share your poster with the class and explain why you chose that particular misconception.
Work in groups to create a short news broadcast from the ’90s. Each group should cover one of the misconceptions, presenting it as a news story. Include interviews, eyewitness accounts, and expert opinions to make it engaging. Perform your broadcast for the class.
Participate in a debate about the pros and cons of ’90s technology compared to today’s technology. Consider aspects like communication, entertainment, and security. Prepare arguments and counterarguments, and engage in a respectful discussion with your classmates.
Imagine you are a teenager living in the ’90s. Write a diary entry about a day in your life, incorporating one of the misconceptions from the article. Describe how it affects your day and your thoughts on the situation. Share your diary entry with a partner and discuss the differences between the ’90s and today.
Choose a popular figure or item from the ’90s, such as a musician, actor, or toy. Research their impact during that decade and any misconceptions associated with them. Create a short presentation to share your findings with the class, including visuals and interesting facts.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Christmas Day 1998, you’re sprawled out on the floor of your family room, surrounded by a sea of crumpled wrapping paper and a fleet of toys and games. Your older sister is at the bathroom mirror testing out a new eyeshadow—it’s blue. You can hear the muffled voices of the Beastie Boys coming from your older brother’s new Sony Walkman. You’ve eaten six Christmas cookies, and it’s not even 10 a.m. Life is good. Just then, a team of federal agents in dark suits and sunglasses bursts through the front door and heads straight toward you. You’re confused; you’re only nine years old. What could they possibly want with you? But they don’t want you; they want your Furby. “Sorry, kiddo, this is a matter of National Security,” one agent says as he takes the furry toy from your hands, and with that, the agents disappear as quickly as they came.
Okay, fine, the government did not actually go around seizing kids’ Furbies on Christmas or any other day, but it did buy into the idea that the beloved bird-like toy could pose a threat to National Security. Hi, I’m Justin Dodd, a certified ’90s kid and former Furby dad. The last decade of the second millennium gave us a lot: the rise of the World Wide Web, the fall of the USSR, and multiple rom-coms starring Julia Roberts. But with such seismic shifts in technology and culture came a fair number of misconceptions, from the idea that Furbies could function as spies to the myth that O.J. Simpson was acquitted solely because of some ill-fitting gloves. Let’s get into it.
Furbies could record your conversations. In 1997, designers David Hampton and Caleb Chung conceived of a Tamagotchi-type toy that you could pet. They gave this ambiguous creature limited speech capabilities and called it a Furby, a variation on their working title, “furball.” The invention was soon sold to Tiger Electronics, which was later acquired by Hasbro. By the 1998 holiday season, Furby was the hottest toy on the market, but the finer workings of this technological wonder were lost on the casual consumer, leading to exaggerated rumors about its capabilities. The simplest misunderstanding was that Furbies could record conversations, which they literally could not. In January 1999, the National Security Agency even went so far as to ban the toy from its Maryland headquarters, citing concerns that Furbies could pick up classified information and repeat it. Tiger Electronics’ president, Roger Schiffman, clarified that while Furby is a clever toy, it does not record or mimic voices. The NSA did not do their homework; Furby is not a spy.
Concerns about Furbies weren’t limited to the NSA. Some healthcare professionals worried that Furbies could interfere with medical equipment, and the FAA banned them during takeoff and landing just in case they could somehow disrupt plane instruments. Not all misconceptions were tech-based; another prevalent claim was that Furby fur came from dogs and cats. In reality, the fur was made of acrylic.
Now, let’s talk about O.J. Simpson’s acquittal. On June 15, 1995, in a Los Angeles courtroom, O.J. Simpson tried on a pair of leather gloves, one of which was blood-stained. They were kind of small, and in the words of Simpson’s defense attorney, Johnny Cochran, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” which is exactly what the jury did. However, the verdict was never just about the gloves. The evidence collection process was flawed, with photos unlabeled and multiple items tossed into the same bag. The LAPD’s handling of the scene led to more bloody shoe prints being left behind by them than by the perpetrator, creating a cross-contamination nightmare. Cochran even suggested that blood and other evidence had been planted. The ill-fitting gloves became a metaphor for the prosecution’s case, which had many inconsistencies.
Moving on to Y2K fears, many were completely unfounded. In the spirit of conserving digital storage space, early software often used two-digit years instead of four. As the 90s progressed, people began to worry about what would happen in the year 2000, fearing that programs would interpret the year as 1900, leading to various problems. Companies and government entities worked hard to update systems to prevent disaster. When January 2000 came and went more or less without incident, it seemed silly, although there were some minor glitches.
Next, let’s discuss the term “90s kid.” Some consider anyone born between 1990 and 1999 to fit the bill, while others believe a true ’90s kid is someone whose formative childhood years fell during that decade. Using “90s kid” as a synonym for “Millennial” isn’t entirely accurate, as anyone born between 1981 and 1996 is officially a Millennial. However, cultural touchstones from the ’90s didn’t vanish on January 1, 2000. For example, Dunkaroos weren’t discontinued in the U.S. until 2012.
Now, about Al Gore’s claim that he invented the internet. In March 1999, he appeared on CNN and mentioned his role in creating the internet. Politicians and pundits roasted him for this claim, but he likely meant to say that he helped secure important government funding for its development. The internet wasn’t invented by one person; it evolved over time, with contributions from many, including Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn, who developed key protocols.
Lastly, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are not identical twins; they are fraternal twins, meaning they came from two separate eggs. They only share half their genome and should only look as similar as any other close-in-age siblings.
That’s it for this episode on misconceptions. If you have an idea for a future installment, drop it in the comments below. Thanks for watching!
Furbies – Furbies are electronic robotic toys that were popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, known for their ability to mimic human speech and behavior. – In social studies class, we discussed how Furbies became a cultural phenomenon and reflected the technological advancements of their time.
Misconceptions – Misconceptions are incorrect or misleading views or ideas about something. – During our critical thinking exercise, we identified common misconceptions about historical events and discussed how they can affect our understanding of history.
Security – Security refers to the measures taken to protect a country, organization, or individual from threats or danger. – The lesson on national security helped us understand how governments work to protect their citizens from various threats.
Trial – A trial is a formal examination of evidence in a court, typically with a judge and jury, to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings. – We learned about the importance of a fair trial in maintaining justice and upholding the rule of law in society.
Evidence – Evidence is the information or facts that are used to support a belief, conclusion, or judgment. – In our debate, we were encouraged to use evidence from reliable sources to support our arguments.
Computers – Computers are electronic devices that process data and perform tasks according to a set of instructions called programs. – The role of computers in modern education was a key topic in our discussion about technological impacts on learning.
Decade – A decade is a period of ten years. – We examined how the past decade has seen significant changes in technology and its influence on global communication.
Internet – The internet is a global network of interconnected computers that allows people to access and share information worldwide. – Our project focused on how the internet has transformed the way people communicate and access information.
Twins – Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy. – In our study of genetics, we explored how twins can provide insights into the nature versus nurture debate.
Kids – Kids are young children or offspring. – The discussion on children’s rights emphasized the importance of ensuring that all kids have access to education and healthcare.
