The hippy-loving 1970s were a time of bell bottoms, shag carpets, lava lamps, and very few rules. While the decade is often remembered for its groovy tunes and disco fever, it was also filled with hard-to-comprehend cultural norms. Strap yourself in because some of these things will leave you wondering how on earth they were considered acceptable and, more importantly, how you survived.
1. There Were No Seatbelts in Cars
Safety wasn’t the highest priority in the 1970s, even in the car. Seatbelt laws were either non-existent or barely enforced, and kids would crawl around in the backseat or sit on their parent’s laps in the front. Today, the first thing parents tell kids to do when they get in the car is to “fasten their seatbelt.” And we all know the panic felt when you realize the kids haven’t buckled up or that annoying chime starts going off. Times have definitely changed for the better; statistics from the NHTSA show that 50 percent of passengers killed weren’t wearing seat belts.
2. People Smoked Everywhere
Back then, restaurants, airplanes, offices, hospitals, and even the doctor’s office had an ashtray. Lighting up a cigarette was so ingrained in the culture that people did it without a second thought for anyone else or their own health. There was even a designated smoking section on planes behind a curtain as if that protected anyone. Now, if someone even tries to smoke or vape near you, they’ll be subjected to a side-eye or a firm “This is a non-smoking zone.”
3. Kids Roamed Free
The notion of helicopter parenting back in the 70s is laughable. Kids were like free-range chickens, encouraged to get out of the house and come back by curfew—which was when the streetlights came on. There were no cell phones or Life 360; parents didn’t even check in on their kids. It was normal to see a group of 8-year-olds wandering around the streets, playing in construction sites, and no one batted an eye. Today, parents barely let their kids walk two blocks alone; if they do, they are tracking them on their phones.
4. Lead Paint Was Used for Everything
You bet that vibrant paint on your crib or toy was laced with lead. The health and safety impact wasn’t known or ever questioned. And don’t forget the lead pipes. Back then, if anyone expressed concern or complained, they were labeled as “being paranoid.” Fast forward to today, and we are now acutely aware of the dangers of lead poisoning. According to the National Library of Medicine, it can cause serious neurological disorders. People in the ’70s lived on the edge and didn’t even know it.
5. Racism and Sexism was Rife in Ads
Flip through a 70s magazine, and you’ll see ads that would send today’s Twitterverse into a full-blown meltdown. Think housewives looking thrilled to serve their husband’s meals and cater to their every whim and shockingly tone-deaf depictions of racial minorities. This casual misogyny and racism were baked into marketing, and no one even thought to question it. Today, these ads would cause mass outrage and boycotts and generate endless opinion pieces.
6. Doctors Endorsed Cigarettes
Speaking of provocative and offensive ads, here’s a head-scratcher: doctors, yep, the people responsible for your health, appeared in ads recommending cigarette brands. Imagine your physician telling you today, “For a smoother throat, try menthols!” In the 21st century, the idea of a doctor endorsing smoking, one of the main contributors to cancer, and literally kills you, is so wild it feels like a bad SNL skit.
7. People Played Lawn Darts
Believe it or not, lawn darts were marketed as a family game when the harsh reality was they were dangerous weapons disguised as fun. Playing this game involved chucking these huge, metal-tipped darts into the air, aiming for a target or, more likely, your sibling’s skull. It’s shocking to comprehend how this was considered good, clean, fun. These days, some kids’ toys have so many safety warnings that it’s like signing a liability waiver just to open the box.
8. Hitchhiking Was Common
Sticking out your thumb when you needed a ride was okay, provided you were with friends. Hitchhiking was not only common, it was also considered a legitimate way to get around. Now, the thought of getting into a car with a total stranger and trusting they’ll get you safely to your destination seems insane. We’ve watched enough crime documentaries to know how it can all end. But in the 70s, people were trusting and friendly, and hitchhiking was a chill and convenient way to get from Point A to Point B.
9. Doctors Dished Out Diet Pills Like Candy
Back in the 70s, diet pills were handed out like they were vitamin C, with little regard for the fact that they were essentially amphetamines. Whenever a woman wanted to shed a few pounds, she popped to the doctor, who happily prescribed a pill to help her reach their goal. Being slim was coveted, and women wanted to look more attractive for their husbands. Never mind the dangers to their physical and mental health and the serious threat of addiction.
10. Childproofing Was Non-Existent
Parents didn’t cater to their kids in the 70s. Sharp edges, electrical outlets, choking hazards, no one even thought to make them childproof. Homes in the 70s were dangerous minefields, so toddlers could stick a fork in a socket or swallow a Lego piece in a second. Today, new parents make their homes fortresses of safety gates, outlet covers, and foam padding. If you survived the 70s without getting electrocuted or choking on a toy, you were one of the lucky ones.
11. Television Wasn’t 24/7
Not everyone had limits in the 70s except maybe the television. You’d know you’d stayed up late when, suddenly, your favorite show cuts to static or a patriotic montage with the national anthem. The TV had signed off and stopped broadcasting for the night. For those now growing up with Netflix, Hulu, and 24-hour news channels, the idea of television having a bedtime will come as a shock. Nowadays, we binge-watch until 3 AM and pay the consequences in the morning.
12. Pong Was Considered High-Tech Gaming
In today’s gaming-obsessed reality, where VR headsets aren’t even weird, it is unfathomable to think that in the 70s, Pong—a game where two paddles bounced a square ball back and forth—was considered cutting-edge technology. Our equivalent to the PS5, your kids will think you are trolling them if you tell them you spent hours staring at two lines and a dot.
13. Adults Flirted with Teenagers
Long before things were PC, it wasn’t just acceptable but weirdly celebrated in some circles for men to lavish attention on teenage girls. Think of those rock stars dating 15-year-old girls or older men openly commenting on how grown up a teenage girl looked. It’s creepy now and stinks of “Me-Too,” but in the 70s, people acted like it was totally normal, even our parents. These days, that kind of behavior would (rightfully) get someone canceled and maybe even arrested.
14. TVs Had Rabbit Ears
Long before cable and streaming took hold, everyone relied on those weird antenna contraptions known as rabbit ears to get a decent picture on the TV. They were pretty flimsy; half the time, you were stuck watching a fuzzy image or had to get up and adjust the antennas constantly. Some of us even wrapped them in tinfoil for a better signal. Today, if your Netflix lags for two seconds, you’re rage-quitting.
15. Paper Boys on Bicycles Delivered the Newspaper
In the 70s, your local newspaper was delivered by a kid on a bike who would fling the paper onto your lawn like a frisbee. These pre-teens were probably between 8 and 12; they woke up at 5 AM to get to work pedaling around town delivering the news. Today, no one even reads physical newspapers, and the idea of allowing your young son to have a job, let alone get up at that time, is enough to send a shiver down your spine.
