Staying up to date with the products and technologies we consume daily is a daunting task for many, let alone tracking the ones we've lost to time.

Yet, a recent post on social media sparked a wave of nostalgia as people remembered popular items that disappeared unannounced, leaving only memories behind.

In response to the post asking, 'What quietly disappeared without anyone realising it?', thousands poured their heart out, sharing things they’ve missed and are yearning for.

'Ronald McDonald. He was plastered all over every bit of advertising for McDonald's for decades, but now you only see him in old locations needing renovations,' one replied.

People shared about things that have quietly disappeared without anyone realising. Image source: X/@historyinmemes.

'The entire Starburst confectionery line. They whisked them all away in the dead of night without any announcement they were discontinuing in Australia…it was a travesty,' a second shared.

The dominance of touchscreen interfaces was lamented, too. One participant voiced displeasure about the loss of physical buttons, saying: 'As cool as touch screens are, they do not belong on most things.'

'Microwaves, stoves and other appliances do not need it.'

Some shared the lack of free toys or giveaways in cereal boxes for years, while others talked about the disappearance of phone books, 24-hour photo stores, iPods, and songs that finish by fading out.

Another user added: 'Red eyes in photos—people rarely use the flash function anymore.'

Others reminisced about fleeting trends such as fidget spinners, planking, and the Harlem Shake dance.

People also talked about how the change in technology has caused some devices and features to become out of date.

Some items have disappeared without a trace. Image source: Freepik.

'A 3.5mm headphone jack,' one replied.

While another added: 'I can't even remember when dial-up disappeared. It was here, and then it was gone.'

'Your laptop/desktop comes with MS Word, and you only had to pay more if you wanted to upgrade,' a third replied.

'Car cigarette lighters. When and where did they go?' A fourth asked.

Some also shared they would now rarely see 3D or curved TVs in store and disc drives on computers and laptops.

'Having a separate GPS in your car,' another added.

While another user replied: 'Really, separate everything—cell phone, MP3 player, camera.'

Throughout the nostalgia trip, it was clear that many missed the bygone era of courtesy and sociability. The decline of thank you notes and paper invitations handwritten in cursive was keenly observed by many, linking loss with the rise of digital social interaction.

'I've been to four weddings and various baby showers in the past few years. Not one “Thank You” note for the presents. No idea if they got them,' one shared.

'Baby showers and wedding showers were all invites on Facebook that I would have missed if I had not noticed the invite by accident.'

Gone are the days too where kids would sit in front of the TV on Saturday morning watching cartoons.

'I’m still bitter about that,' one said.

Key Takeaways

• People shared on social media products and traditions that have quietly disappeared, such as Starburst lollies, iPods, and writing in cursive.
  
• Technology advancements have made many products obsolete, including headphone jacks, cigarette lighters in cars, and standalone GPS units.
  
• Some noted the loss of physical buttons on appliances and the disappearance of free toys in cereal boxes.
  
• There was also mention of the absence of traditional practices like writing thank-you notes and paper invitations.
  

Members, which of these items do you miss? Do you have other items in your mind that have quietly disappeared without anyone noticing? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

[SGH]

I know what you mean. My fingerprints disappeared for some reason about 8 years ago. I only found out when the fingerprint scanner on my laptop stopped working. A couple of years later I had my fingerprints taken as an component for an Immi-card application. Neither fingers not thumbs would scan. They ended up using an Iris scanner or something similar for the biometric .
Thought it could have been tied in with the many medications that I was started on at that time but my Doctors discounted that possibility.
I often joke that, during lockdown, I would have made a great bank robber. No fingerprints and legally masked up, just wear sunglasses and a cap

I have problems every time I go to the US, the scanner just will not pick up my fingerprints, the customs person will ask me to push harder, then they will get me to sanitise my hands hoping it will soften them somehow, it just goes on and on. My husband walks away, he puts his hands in the air and says he gives up because it happens every time. I'm not sure when they are going over to iris scanning.