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Back Then

Born in 1980

It was 1998 when you turned 18

You arrived in 1980. By 1998 — 28 years ago now — the world had moved on. Here's what it looked like.

Turning 28 this year Part of Generation Z

You arrived the year a search engine started in a garage.

1998

The world you arrived into

Britain

The Good Friday Agreement

On 10 April 1998, Northern Ireland’s parties signed the agreement that largely ended the Troubles.

culture

Titanic won 11 Oscars

In March 1998, the story of the 1912 disaster sailed off with a record-tying haul.

1998

What people were listening to

music

Britney’s "...Baby One More Time"

Released in late 1998, it made Britney Spears the biggest pop star on earth within months.

music

Cher’s "Believe"

The Auto-Tuned single arrived late in 1998 and gave Cher a number one 35 years into her career.

music

"My Heart Will Go On" ruled the year

Céline Dion’s Titanic ballad was everywhere in the first months of 1998.

1998

At the cinema and on television

movies

Saving Private Ryan

Spielberg’s D-Day opening redefined war films in the summer of 1998.

1998

Technology looked very different

technology

Google was founded

Larry Page and Sergey Brin registered their company in September 1998. The internet changed forever.

technology

The iMac arrived

In August 1998, Apple’s translucent all-in-one began the company’s comeback.

1998

What things cost

  • An average UK house about £70,000
  • A pint of beer about £1.80
  • A litre of petrol about 66p

Indicative UK averages from sample data — being verified and expanded.

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