The early 1990s now feel almost like mythology. We live in a world filled with AI, streaming, smartphones, and social media — but thirty years ago, everything was new, a little clunky, and yet magical. For those of us who experienced the birth of the internet, it felt like stepping into an unknown world. Everything lay ahead of us. Nothing was finished, and that was exactly what made it so exciting.

The Singing Modem

It often began with a 56k modem (or even 14.4 or 28.8 for the real early birds). You dialed up through the phone line, and the whole family knew it — because the line was busy while you were online. The sound is still iconic: a series of beeps, screeches, and crackles that sounded like something out of a sci-fi movie. When the connection finally went through, a world of text, simple images, and slowly loading websites opened up.

We also remember the cost of connection. Internet was expensive at first — the meter ticked like a phone call. That’s why many of us stayed up late at night when rates were lower or logged in quickly just to check email before disconnecting.

The First Websites

Before big portals and social media, the web was full of homemade sites. GeoCities, Tripod, and Angelfire were our building blocks. There, you could create your own page, often decorated with blinking text, MIDI background music, and colorful GIFs. There was always a “guestbook” for visitors to leave a note. And of course, the classic sign: “Under Construction” with a flashing little worker.

The web was personal — almost like a digital diary. It wasn’t about likes or algorithms, but about expressing yourself and sharing with others.

The Software That Built Our World

Notepad and HTML

Many of us started directly in Notepad, writing <html> and <body> by hand. It was raw, but it gave you an amazing sense of control. You saw how a single line of code became a headline or a button on the screen.

FrontPage – the first step toward simplicity

Microsoft’s FrontPage made it possible for people without coding knowledge to build websites. The problem was that it often created messy code — but it was an early sign that the web was for everyone, not just techies.

Dreamweaver – the revolution

Then came Macromedia Dreamweaver in 1997. For many, this was the game changer. Suddenly you could build professional-looking websites in a graphical interface, while still having full access to the code. You could switch between design mode and code view — and in the process, an entire generation learned HTML and CSS.

Dreamweaver empowered small businesses, organizations, and individuals to create professional sites without being programmers.

Flash and the dream of animation

At the same time, Macromedia Flash exploded. Suddenly, you could have animated menus, intro movies, and small games directly in the browser. It created an era of over-the-top intros and sites where you had to wait a minute before anything loaded. But Flash opened the door to creativity and interactivity that plain HTML couldn’t deliver at the time.

Chatting – Meeting Online

Social media didn’t exist yet, but we had our meeting places.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) was king. We hung out in channels like #sweden or #quake, discussing music, gaming strategies, or just life. IRC was simple, text-based, but incredibly addictive.
ICQ (1996) then arrived and exploded in popularity. The “Uh-oh!” sound for new messages is still one of the most iconic audio memories of the 90s. Suddenly you had a contact list of friends and acquaintances across the world.
Later came MSN Messenger, but that was already the late 90s bleeding into the 2000s.

It was all about direct conversation — no likes, no algorithms, just pure connection.

The Games That Shaped Us

Alongside the web, gaming culture took shape. And nothing defined it more than LAN parties.

DOOM – the beginning

When DOOM came out in 1993, everything changed. For the first time, we could play against each other over networks. Schools and community centers filled with kids lugging heavy PCs and CRT monitors to connect via Ethernet cables.

Quake – Deathmatch and Capture the Flag

Then came Quake in 1996, and it quickly became a religion. Deathmatch was wild, but Capture the Flag (CTF) became a phenomenon. Two teams, two bases, one flag to steal and defend. Simple rules, endless hours of adrenaline and strategy.

QuakeWorld improved the netcode, making it possible to play properly over dial-up connections. For many, this was the birth of eSports culture.

Duke Nukem, Command & Conquer, Warcraft II

Other classics filled our nights:

Duke Nukem 3D (1996) with its humor and chaotic action.
Command & Conquer (1995) and Warcraft II (1995) that defined the RTS genre.
Diablo (1996), which introduced us to nights lost in endless dungeon crawls with friends online.

LAN Parties – Our Festivals

Going to a LAN party was like going to a music festival. You packed your PC, heavy monitor, keyboard, and cables. Once there, rows of machines were set up in school gyms or basements. Internet wasn’t always available, but it didn’t matter — we had each other and the local network.

The smell of pizza, chips, and energy drinks filled the room. Nights were spent fragging in Quake, trading files, listening to mp3s, and competing over who had the fastest rig.

The Music and the Vibe

Music was a huge part of the culture. Winamp (1997) became the standard mp3 player, and suddenly you could have your entire collection on your PC instead of CDs. With custom skins, every player felt unique.

To sit in IRC, blasting tunes in Winamp, while downloading demos from FTP servers — that was the essence of 90s digital life.

The Difference Compared to Today

Today, everything is polished and automated. Social media controls our feeds, websites are slick, and apps do everything. But in the 90s, the internet was something we built ourselves. Amateurs and enthusiasts shaped as much of it as professionals.

It was a time when imagination had more room. A website could be ugly but personal. A LAN could be chaotic but unforgettable. Dreamweaver and Flash felt like tools to build the future, not just production software.

The Legacy of the 90s

Many of us who grew up then carried the lessons forward. Coding in Notepad taught us structure. LAN parties taught us teamwork. Dreamweaver and Flash gave us the courage to create.

It wasn’t just technology — it was culture, community, and the dream of a digital future.

And maybe that’s why we’re still nostalgic. When we hear the sound of a modem, see a blinking GIF, or hear someone shout “Capture the Flag!”, we remember that we were there when it all began.

By Chris...

Dreamweaver 1.2 in 1998

In March 1998, Macromedia released the popular Dreamweaver 1.2 website editor for Windows. The editor allowed users to switch between text and WYSIWYG mode.

When the Internet Was Young – From Modems to Dreamweaver and Quake