The 2000s were a strange time. It was the era of glitter fonts, flip phones, and dial-up drama. Some trends make us cringe when we look back on them, but let's face it, we still have a soft spot for them. Whether it was obsessively curating your MySpace Top 8 or rocking trucker hats like you were friends with Ashton Kutcher, the 2000s were filled with quirks that defined a generation. Here’s a nostalgic look at some of the most hilariously awkward fads we once embraced and maybe still would if no one were watching.

1. Livestrong Bracelets

These bright yellow rubber bands were everywhere in the early 2000s. What started as a campaign to support cancer research turned into a full-blown fashion statement. Everyone, from middle schoolers to athletes, wore one, and soon after, other causes adopted wristbands of various colors. You genuinely had the impression that you were living out your values. The Livestrong bracelet was a surprisingly effective accessory for a worthy cause, even if the trend eventually faded.

2. MySpace Top 8

Ranking your friends publicly? Absolutely. MySpace’s Top 8 was a digital battleground of friendship politics and passive-aggressive updates. You’d spend hours rearranging the lineup after a minor fallout or adding someone just to impress a crush. The feature caused more drama than any other social media tool at the time, yet we were all addicted. Perhaps we secretly wish Instagram had it now because it was petty, messy, and hilarious.

3. Trucker Hats

Blame Ashton Kutcher or Von Dutch, but trucker hats took over 2000s fashion. They were oversized, mesh-backed, and usually paired with a graphic tee and distressed jeans. At a barbecue, everyone had one, even your cousin and pop stars. At the time, it felt effortlessly cool, even though the trend straddled the line between being iconic and ironic. We might flinch when we think back on it, but we wouldn't mind wearing one again.

4. “Emo” Away Messages

Before texting was the norm, away messages on AIM were everything. You'd drop vague, angsty quotes like “You wouldn’t understand” or cryptic lyrics from Dashboard Confessional. It was the ultimate passive communication tool, broadcasting your teenage mood swings in dramatic fonts and colors. Emo away messages were basically the 2000s version of a subtweet, and they let us feel heard, even if no one was listening.

5. Super Low-Rise Jeans

These jeans sat so low it’s a miracle they stayed up. Super low-rise denim, made popular by stars like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, was a staple of fashion and culture. They had to be adjusted before you could sit down, and belts served more as ornaments than as practical accessories. Part of us still remembers how awesome those jeans made us feel in those days, but we are thankful for the high-waist renaissance of today.

6. Frosted Lip Gloss

Thick, sticky, and often blindingly shiny, frosted lip gloss was a staple in every Y2K makeup bag. Whether it was Bonne Bell or something you snagged from Claire’s, the icy sheen was mandatory for every mall outing or school dance. It smelled like synthetic fruit and stuck to your hair in the wind, but we kept reapplying anyway. Even if beauty trends have moved on, the nostalgia of that shimmery pout still lingers.

7. Ringtone Obsession

Downloading a custom ringtone used to be a major event. Whether it was “Crazy Frog” or your favorite pop hit in MIDI form, your ringtone said everything about you. People spent hours browsing sites or paying $2.99 just to get a 15-second clip that would play when their crush called. Some even assigned different tones to different people. These days, phones are mostly kept on silent, but we once treated ringtones like personal theme songs.