Digital Cameras have been making a comeback in pop culture throughout the past five years. The concept of using digital cameras was new in the early 2000s with the rise of brands like Canon. People utilized digital cameras as a way to store permanent photos digitally rather than disposable cameras or film cameras.

Recently, as trends circulate over a 20-year period, the popularity of digital cameras has come back in the 2020s. When people tend to hit their 20s, they become nostalgic about childhood. Digital cameras are a way to capture childhood memories as they were used in the 2000s, and people desire to return to more “innocent” times. 

Additionally, Generation Z (born between the late 1990s to early 2010s) may be tired of seeing themselves through the screen on their phones. As one acclimates to their surroundings and to what is normal, they sometimes will seek something novel in order to excite their lives. Using phones, despite it being a privilege, is common for most teens. As a result, they might want to search for something the polar opposite in order to spark more creativity and novelty in their lives. Digital cameras have risen in popularity because they represent a more “vintage” style of photography and expression. Young adults enjoy the aesthetics of a “vintage” style, which can be incorporated into their lifestyle through things such as the digital camera. The digital camera acts as just one way people can aestheticize their lives and fit into a style unique to them. 

Digital cameras have become one of the most popular teen gadgets. People seek to find meaning in technology and connect to it personally with their memories. Now, TikTok and Instagram are featuring more videos with digital cameras as a way to aesthetically please the eye and evoke nostalgia for Gen Z audiences. 

Finding meaning in digital photography helps make life feel valuable and exciting, and it allows people to express their personalities. The rise of digital cameras has been a good example of people returning to older trends to express themselves and reconnect with their childhood. Digital cameras are both the newest and oldest way to capture the world around you.