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3471Back in the early 1990s, knowing how to use a computer and get online was a big deal.
If you could open MS-DOS, mess with config files, troubleshoot a modem, or even just connect to the Internet through a dial-up connection, you were ahead of most people. Having that knowledge opened up new opportunities in work, school, and personal interests.
Today, technology is far more user-friendly, but that very simplicity may result in a generation that’s good at using apps but struggles with understanding how the underlying systems work.
So, what’s the modern equivalent of being tech-savvy in the ’90s?
Generational Divide
Most Reddit users agree: Millennials and Gen Xers learned the hard way, and it paid off. “Gen X and Millennials are the only people who have any semblance of computer literacy,” one person wrote in the popular r/Futurology subreddit.
These groups grew up using PCs that constantly needed troubleshooting, pushing them to develop a foundational understanding of computers through necessity rather than choice.
An IT support worker backed this up, writing, “Gen Z is just as computer illiterate as every boomer I’ve supported.”
Plenty of older users shared their war stories. They remembered editing startup files like autoexec.bat and config.sys, manually assigning IRQs and DMA channels, and installing hardware with little or no help.
“You have one hour to install this 8-bit Soundblaster ISA card into this 386, including setting the DMA and IRQ jumpers. Good luck and Godspeed,” one person joked.
Another chimed in, “If you’ve never had to edit a config.sys file to make your game run, are you really a gamer?”
That kind of on-the-fly learning gave many their first jobs in tech and built skills that carried over into long careers.
Today’s Tech: Easier, But Shallower
Unlike the early days of home computing, modern tech often works straight out of the box. Devices are intuitive, automated, and hard to break, which also makes them hard to learn from.
Many Redditors said this shift has removed the need to dig into a system and understand what makes it tick.
“They don’t know what a root folder is because they never needed to know,” one person said. Another pointed out:
“Most tech companies went out of their way to ensure you can’t do anything the manufacturer didn’t allow.”
A commenter shared how their Gen Z co-worker with a master’s degree couldn’t find their Documents folder.
Others added that younger people often confuse Wi-Fi with the Internet and don’t understand how apps like Gmail and Yahoo communicate with each other.
“He knows everything about phone apps but virtually nothing about Windows except how to launch Steam to play games,” one parent said about their teenager.
One IT professional said, “I did not expect so much of Gen Z to be computer illiterate.”
What Could Be the Modern Equivalent?
So, is there a 2020s version of being ahead of the curve like knowing DOS or Windows 3.1 used to be? The answers vary.
Some floated AI tools like ChatGPT, while others suggested integrated smart homes or building custom automation systems.
“Maybe AI is the latest one? But it’s still in its infancy,” one commenter offered. Another suggested that understanding how to manage off-grid solar and battery systems could be the next frontier of hands-on tech knowledge.
Still, there was consensus that nothing today demands the same level of user involvement. “Most Gen Z software engineers don’t know how to set up a server from scratch or anything beyond their abstractions,” one engineer said.
Another added, “They can’t fix an iPadOS issue, but they don’t need to. Just factory reset it or buy a new iPad.”
Is It Really a Problem?
Some see the shift as a reflection of changing times. “I wouldn’t say they’re bad at the basics, more that the basics have changed,” one person said. “We are all just products of our time,” another added.
Others disagreed. University instructors mentioned that many students today struggle with basic computing tasks.
“I teach stats to university students, and knowing how to write scripts using ‘R’ is pretty much an industry standard,” one person said.
“We usually spend the first three-hour-long lab just getting everyone used to opening R-Studio and setting up a working directory.”
Some also mentioned the erosion of problem-solving skills. One user described how growing up with limited internet access forced them to find solutions offline, either by trial-and-error or by asking friends.
“We and our friends were our tech support because our parents were IT illiterate and professional help cost money we didn’t have,” they wrote.
The Bottom Line
If you knew how to fix a broken PC or pirate a game in the ’90s, you were part of a tech-savvy minority that helped shape today’s digital world.
Today, that type of hands-on experience is rare. Devices are easy to use, disposable, and locked down. As a result, many younger users never learn how computers actually work beneath the surface.
“Most people know how to use computers today because they’re easier, but there’s a whole layer of computer use underneath that’s still there, and powerful, that most people aren’t even aware of,” one commenter explained.
It remains to be seen whether new technologies like AI will encourage deeper user engagement.
But for now, the gritty, trial-by-error learning that defined the ’90s tech experience is mostly gone, replaced by slick interfaces and limited access.
The skills may be fading, but the memories and the self-taught knowledge still hold value. As one commenter put it, “I feel like a member of a secret ancient order. The Holy PC Guard, or something.”
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