Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

A Look Back at Life in 2003

Wednesday, August 25, 2021, By Jen Plummer
Share
technology

As the University welcomes students from around the globe to its campus, we’re time traveling back to 2003—the year many individuals comprising our incoming Class of 2025 were born. Mostly fueled by the accelerated pace of technological advancement, much has changed about our lives since then.

Here are six ways things were noticeably different 18 years ago.

  1. Social media was in its infancy.
    It’s hard to remember a time when scrolling TikTok, Instagram or Twitter wasn’t part of our everyday lives, but in 2003? MySpace, which would become the largest social media network in the world from 2005 to 2008, had just been invented. Facebook didn’t come onto the scene until 2004, Twitter until 2006, Instagram until 2010 and TikTok until 2016.
  2. stock image of a dated Nokia cell phoneWe were all about that T-9 life.
    Smartphones were relatively rare in 2003, with BlackBerry just starting to catch on among predominantly business users. The best-selling cell phone in 2003 was the Nokia 1100, on which you could call and text but not much else. Before unlimited texting plans became ubiquitous, users would pay 15 to 20 cents per text or have a monthly allotment of texts—so you had to make every message count. The first iPhone wouldn’t be released until 2007.
  3. To obtain food, you had to (mostly) leave the house.
    Grubhub, Instacart, Uber Eats and DoorDash hadn’t been invented yet. Sure, you could have a pizza delivered back then, but the world of ordering any type of cuisine you desire with just a few finger taps was at least a decade away in 2003.
  4. Network TV was still king.
    Before Netflix, Hulu, Sling, HBO Max, Disney+ and Apple TV (need we go on?) gave us a million things to watch at any given moment, Americans were still hooked on primetime network television. The top shows in 2003 were “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS), “American Idol” (FOX) and “Friends” (NBC), the final season of which would air the following year in 2004.
  5. Streaming music was not a thing.
    If you wanted to listen to one of the top albums of 2003 (“Get Rich or Die Tryin’” by 50 Cent, John Mayer’s “Heavier Things” or the “Bad Boys II” soundtrack, perhaps), you would more than likely hit a local music store like FYE or Sam Goody and buy the CD. YouTube didn’t launch until 2005, Spotify followed in 2006 and Apple Music wasn’t available until 2015.
  6. Men’s hoops had everyone coming down with Orange fever.
    The spring of 2003 marks the last time the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team claimed the title of NCAA Division 1 National Champion in a nailbiter game against the Kansas Jayhawks. While we could do without the return to flip phones and compact discs, here’s one piece of history from that era we wouldn’t mind repeating. Go Orange!
  • Author

Jen Plummer

  • Recent
  • College of Visual and Performing Arts Welcomes New Full-Time Faculty
    Monday, September 25, 2023, By Erica Blust
  • School of Education Faculty Publish ‘Lesson Study With Mathematics and Science Preservice Teachers’
    Sunday, September 24, 2023, By Martin Walls
  • Water Main Break Near Bird Library to Be Repaired Monday
    Sunday, September 24, 2023, By News Staff
  • University Musicians, West Point Band to Perform Together This Weekend As Part of Events Around Military Appreciation Day
    Friday, September 22, 2023, By Christine Weber
  • Turning Young Enthusiasts Into Scientific Researchers
    Friday, September 22, 2023, By Wendy S. Loughlin

More In Campus & Community

College of Visual and Performing Arts Welcomes New Full-Time Faculty

Sixteen new full-time faculty joined the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) for the 2023-24 academic year. Two of the faculty members are also new department chairs in the college. Gregg Barron, assistant teaching professor of music industry in…

Academic Strategic Plan Launch Symposium Set for Sept. 26

Following a yearlong planning and development process involving hundreds of members of the campus community, “Leading With Distinction,” Syracuse University’s new academic strategic plan, was unveiled earlier this month. A launch symposium will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from…

Water Main Break Near Bird Library to Be Repaired Monday

After a water main break occurred near Bird Library Sunday afternoon, construction efforts to resolve the issue will start around 6 a.m. Monday. While no buildings will be impacted by the efforts to repair the break, there will be both construction…

University Musicians, West Point Band to Perform Together This Weekend As Part of Events Around Military Appreciation Day

The spirit of the Orange will unite with the precision of the United States Army’s oldest active-duty band, the West Point Band, for several events this weekend at the University, including a public concert with the University’s Wind Ensemble in…

Fall 2023 Career Week: Helping Students Achieve Professional Goals

“It’s never too early to begin taking action to achieve your unique professional goals,” is advice frequently shared by school, college and unit career teams in partnership with Syracuse University Career Services. Supporting students within their unique trajectory to career…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2023 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.