The Ultimate Guide to Y2K

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The origins of Y2K & how it relates to pop culture

Co-authored by Devin McSween Reviewed by Melissa Young

Last Updated: July 14, 2024 Fact Checked

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Y2K Meaning

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The Y2K Bug

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Y2K Fashion

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Y2K on TikTok

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Y2K on Roblox

Y2K stands for “The year 2000.” When you see this slang term online, it might refer to the Y2K bug at the end of 1999, the fashion trends of the late 90s and early 2000s, or the popular Y2K aesthetic on TikTok. Just keep reading to learn all about the cultural significance of Y2K!

Things You Should Know

Y2K means the year 2000. It also refers to the Y2K Bug, or the fear that computers wouldn’t correctly change the date to 2000 and cause global malfunctions.
Y2K also refers to fashion trends of the late 90s and early 2000s, like low-rise jeans, graphic tees, trucker hats, and bold, colorful prints.
Gen Z is currently revitalizing and modernizing Y2K aesthetics, popularizing the fashion online on TikTok and Roblox.

Section 1 of 5:

What is Y2K?

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Additionally, Y2K commonly refers to The Y2K Bug (or, the Millennium Bug), which involved uncertainty about computers making the date change from 1999 to 2000. Y2k also refers to fashion trends during the late 90s and early 2000s, like low-rise jeans, graphic tees, and velour tracksuits.

Section 2 of 5:

The Y2K Bug

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In the late 1990s, people feared computers would malfunction after 1999. Most computers in the 1900s formatted the year as 2 digits, like 1999 coded as 99. Computer programmers and world leaders were worried that on January 1, 2000, computers wouldn’t read 00 as 2000 and instead shift back to 1900, 0000, or 1000. ^{[1]
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- This was speculated to cause computer malfunctions and lead to global damage related to banking, transportation, and power plant operations.
- Ultimately, there were no major problems on January 1, 2000. Most companies around the world successfully fixed the date coding bug. ^{[2]
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- Many people feared that Y2K would be the end of the world, so towards the end of 1999 they stockpiled water and withdrew their money from banks.

Section 3 of 5:

Y2K Styles and Trends

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- Bottoms: low-rise jeans, denim midi skirts, ultra mini skirts . Casual and relaxed was all the rage during the late 90s and early 2000s, with people rocking super low-waisted pants with a flared or baggy cut. ^{[3]
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- Tops: graphic tees, layered shirts, mesh tops . Graphic t-shirts featuring bold designs and iconic logos, like Ed Hardy, define Y2K style. It was super common to layer your graphic tees over short and long shirts for a laid-back look. ^{[4]
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- Prints: bold and colorful . Fun and playful was the dress code for Y2K. Bold and bright pinks, greens, purples, and blues mirrored the explosion of candy-colored technology at the time. ^{[5]
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- Fabrics: denim, velour, metallics . Everything was denim in the late 90s and early 2000s. You also couldn’t escape Juicy Couture velour tracksuits or shiny, holographic fabrics.
- Accessories: trucker hats, colored sunglasses, platform shoes . Von Dutch trucker hats and bucket hats ruled Y2K styles. To finish off a look, you donned some rosy-hued shades. ^{[6]
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- Brands: Diesel, Juicy Couture, Ed Hardy, Von Dutch . These brands decked you out in denim, velour, and graphic tees. Baby Phat, True Religion, and Kangol were also popular. ^{[7]
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- Fashion icons: Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Destiny’s Child . Christina Aguilera, Jay Z, NSYNC, Avril Lavigne, P Diddy, and Blink 182 were also super stylish.