Nine in ten young Britons (90 per cent) say the 2000s are back in fashion, and almost a quarter (22 per cent) think the 2000s would have been the most exciting decade to grow up in, according to a new study.
One in four Gen Z Britons (23 percent) surveyed by Magnifiers say they would love to transport themselves back to the 2000s if they could, while 18 percent say the decade makes them feel nostalgic, even though many are too young to remember it.
The survey also ranks the 40 things Gen Z (born between 1995 and 2010) say are the coolest parts of the 2000s, with the launches of YouTube in 2005 and iPods in 2001 topping the list (31 percent).
In the ranking, young people praise the 2000s for the Harry Potter films (seventh place, 16 percent), Big Brother (11th place, 12 percent), Timberland boots (12th place, 11 percent), flip phones (second place, 24 percent) and Pokémon (fifth place, 18 percent).
Seven per cent of young people surveyed also admit they are embracing the pub drink of the 2000s, cider and blackcurrant, so much so that 16 per cent say cider is their tipple of choice.
A study ranked the 40 best things of the 2000s according to British Gen Zers. The launch of YouTube came in at number one
iPods (released in 2001) ranked joint-first with YouTube in a poll about the most interesting parts of 2000s pop culture.
Other soft drinks that give Gen Z a sense of nostalgia include Freddos chocolate (31 percent) and Capri-Sun drinks (29 percent).
Half (50 percent) of older Brits surveyed believe young people are trying to emulate the decade’s style with graphic T-shirts (third place, 20 percent), Ugg boots (third place, 20 percent), skinny jeans (fourth place, 19 percent), crop tops (seventh place, 16 percent) and big hoops (eighth place, 15 percent).
Some of these items are displayed on the streets today in a revival of 2000s trends.
But why?
The majority (88 percent) of Gen Z believe that 2000s TV shows are bringing the decade back to the fashion forefront.
Among the most popular are Gossip Girl, 2007 (26 percent), Gavin and Stacey, 2007 (25 percent), Doctor Who, rebooted in 2005 (23 percent) and The Office, 2001 (position 14, 19 percent).
Flip phones were voted the second coolest thing of the 2000s
Ugg boots took third place on the coolest items of the 2000s ranking, with 20 percent of the votes for the trendiest footwear.
Also considered top-notch entertainment from the 2000s are Gilmore Girls, released in 2000 (19 percent), Big Brother, 2000 (11th place, 18 percent), Breaking Bad, 2008 (18 percent), and How I Met Your Mother, 2005 (18 percent).
Music from the era has also been cited as contributing to this phenomenon. Pop-punk (ranked 12th, at 11 percent) is seen as a throwback to the 2000s, with artists like Avril Lavigne (23 percent), Green Day (17 percent) and Linkin Park (11 percent) now being channeled through artists like Machine Gun Kelly.
Beyoncé (13th place, 27 percent) and Rihanna (26 percent) are considered the biggest icons of the 2000s, along with Miley Cyrus (26 percent) and Britney Spears (25 percent).
Paris Hilton was ranked as one of the icons of the 2000s (23 percent). She is pictured here at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles.
Eminem (23 percent), Paris Hilton (23 percent), Jennifer Aniston (21 percent) and David Beckham (20 percent) are also considered icons of the era.
“This research shows just how much the nation loves the 2000s,” says Iain Telford, Brand Director at Magners Irish Cider. “Twenty years ago, Magners brought cider on ice to the world and it was a staple of good times and memorable moments. Today we celebrate the nostalgia of the 2000s that still resonates with so many people.
‘As younger Brits embrace everything from bandanas (10th, 13 per cent) and curly hair (11th, 12 per cent) to pop-punk (12th, 11 per cent) and waistcoats (13th, 10 per cent), we’re here to relive the spirit of the ’00s and create new memories with the cider that made them even better the first time around.’