Growing up in the ’90s felt like one big outdoor adventure without a second thought for safety precautions. We had our chunky TVs, cassette tapes, and a whole lot of freedom we took for granted.
The era was simpler in many ways, but let’s be real—some of our everyday habits were actually quite risky.
Looking back, it’s amazing we all survived with as few scars as we did. Here at DM News, we love exploring how our past shapes the decisions we make now, so today, I want to take a lighthearted (but honest) stroll down memory lane.
1. Riding bikes without helmers or protective gear
I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, the idea of strapping on a helmet or elbow pads seemed like an unnecessary hassle.
My friends and I would take off on our bikes, rollerblades, or scooters with the wind in our hair—completely oblivious to the very real possibility of wiping out at high speeds on the pavement.
It was all fun until I took a nasty spill trying to hop a makeshift ramp we’d built from scrap wood. I ended up with a bruised ego and a few scrapes (which I proudly displayed like battle wounds).
But thinking about it now, I realize how a single bad fall could have resulted in a severe head injury.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the majority of serious bike-related injuries can be prevented by wearing a proper helmet. Makes sense, right?
Yet back then, in the quest to look “cool” or just because no one made a fuss, we ignored this simple safety measure. Let’s just say, kids today with their fancy helmets and protective gear might be onto something.
2. Drinking from the garden hose
There’s something oddly nostalgic about turning on the garden hose and gulping down the water on a hot summer day. Many of us never paused to think about the quality of that water or the state of the hose itself.
I recall spending entire afternoons playing tag in my yard, and whenever I got thirsty, I’d just lean down, twist the spigot, and take a swig.
If someone had told me there were chemicals, bacteria, or bits of rubber floating around in that hose, I would’ve probably shrugged and said, “It tastes fine to me.”
Today, we know hoses can contain lead and other harmful substances. The water sitting in a hose under the sun is basically a mini science experiment.
Experts often advise letting the water run for a bit to flush out any stagnant water that’s been heating up in direct sunlight. Of course, in the ’90s, that kind of patience was in short supply.
3. Chatting with strangers online (without supervision)
AOL chat rooms, anyone? Back in the day, getting online was an event in itself (who could forget the screechy dial-up tone?).
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Once we were in, though, there were chat rooms galore—dedicated to every niche interest you can imagine. And yes, that included a lot of random (and sometimes creepy) strangers pretending to be our “friends.”
The internet was such a novelty that many of us—and our parents—weren’t too concerned about things like online predators or data privacy.
I remember jumping into chat rooms, typing away with zero filter, and thinking the biggest risk was running up the phone bill.
But the truth is, we were giving personal details to total strangers. We had no concept of digital boundaries, and we certainly didn’t think about the fact that not everyone online had good intentions. In hindsight, it’s a little chilling how easily we disclosed private info.
Today, cybersecurity experts warn about oversharing on social media, and we have entire systems in place to keep minors safe online. In the ’90s, though, it was basically the Wild West of the internet.
4. Performing “stunts” with zero supervision
Does anyone else remember stacking up random objects to create bike ramps, or climbing garage roofs to “see the view,” or trying out “wrestling moves” you saw on TV?
For many ’90s kids, the only rule was: Don’t break your neck (and if you do, try not to get blood on the carpet).
I have a distinct memory of my cousins and me choreographing a wrestling match on a trampoline—no net, of course. One of us decided it would be cool to do a backflip off the edge.
Thankfully, we came away with nothing worse than a sprained wrist and a few tears. But the potential for serious harm was huge.
Sometimes I wonder how we convinced ourselves these stunts were a good idea. Then I recall that feeling of invincibility you have as a kid.
As Rory Sutherland, a well-known behavior expert, has noted, “Humans are only partly rational. What we can’t measure, we often ignore.” In our young minds, the excitement overshadowed any sense of risk.
5. Roaming the neighborhood unsupervised—without phones
Today, the idea of a ten-year-old wandering around town without a cell phone is enough to make a parent break out in hives.
But in the ’90s, it was completely normal to head out on bikes with a friend (or two) and not return until dinner.
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I remember entire afternoons spent exploring local creeks, hunting for frogs, or just cycling miles away from home. The plan was usually “just be back before it gets dark.”
If you got lost or in trouble, you were out of luck—unless you happened to find a pay phone and had spare change. That sense of freedom was exhilarating, but looking back, it’s stunning how vulnerable we really were.
We also had no way to instantly alert our parents if something happened. In emergencies, every second counts, and we were effectively off the grid.
This sense of unsupervised adventure shaped our resilience in many ways, but it also came with risks we didn’t fully grasp at the time.
6. Playing with fireworks or sparkles without proper safety
I grew up in an area where backyard fireworks were somewhat common around the Fourth of July.
We didn’t have real fireworks stands on every corner, but there were always enough sparklers, bottle rockets, and other small explosives floating around to keep us intrigued.
In many cases, adults supervised. But let’s be real, it was often more like, “Here’s a lighter. Be careful.” The phrase “be careful” wasn’t exactly a robust safety plan.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of firework-related injuries happen each year, many involving minors.
Sparklers can reach temperatures of about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt certain metals. Yet, we’d hold them in our bare hands, trying to write our names in the air. One wrong move and the sparkler could end up against someone’s skin or eyes.
I remember a close call at a friend’s house when the spark ended up on someone’s shoe, leaving a burnt hole in the side. We laughed it off—but it could have been much worse.
7. Last but not least, riding in the back of a truck or car without seatbelts
If you grew up in a rural or suburban area in the ’90s, chances are you hopped into the bed of a pickup truck or hung out in the rear-facing seats of a station wagon.
It was part of the charm of traveling with family and friends—wind in your hair, zero sense of confinement.
I vividly recall piling into the back of my uncle’s pickup truck with my cousins, legs dangling off the edge. We’d belt out ’90s hits as we cruised down the road.
No seatbelts, no harnesses—just the thrill of an open-air ride. It felt like the ultimate sense of freedom.
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Nowadays, you’d get pulled over in a heartbeat for doing something like that. And for good reason. A sudden stop or fender bender could send everyone flying around like ragdolls.
As Seth Godin once said, “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” But he was almost certainly referring to stepping out of your comfort zone in creative or professional endeavors, not throwing caution to the wind (literally) while riding in a moving vehicle.
Putting it all together
Kids growing up today might look at some of these pastimes and think we were living dangerously—or at least, pretty cluelessly. And maybe we were.
Then again, these experiences shaped who we are. They taught us about risk (in some cases, the hard way) and gave us stories we still share today.
I’ve mentioned this before but taking a step back to reflect on our childhood habits can offer surprisingly valuable insights.
On the one hand, it shows how societal awareness of safety and health has evolved. On the other hand, it’s a reminder of the balance between living freely and taking unnecessary chances.
I’m all for encouraging kids (and adults) to explore, get curious, and step outside their comfort zones. But I also believe in sprinkling in a bit of wisdom about genuine dangers out there.
Nostalgia is great—none of us would trade our ’90s memories for anything—but it doesn’t hurt to learn from the past and look after ourselves (and others) a little better in the present.
At the end of the day, it’s fun to reminisce about an era where we drank from hoses, built sketchy ramps in the driveway, and chatted online with random people while we listened to music on our Walkmans.
Yet, the next time I see a kid ride by on a bike decked out with a helmet and knee pads, I can’t help but think, “That’s probably for the best.”
Feel free to share your own “dangerous” ’90s memories, and let’s keep the conversation going. After all, reflecting on the past is one of the easiest ways to see how far we’ve come—and how we might continue to grow.
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