It’s difficult to think back to what was happening back in the 1980s. Thirty years ago this world was a very different place, and yet there are many things that were also very similar.
For example, there were a few popular teen magazines in the 1980s. And since we didn’t have the internet around back then, kids would actually sit down to read these things!
I know- just blew your mind, right?
There were a few different types of magazines too. Here are some examples.
Celebrity Hotties
Some popular magazines were, as you may have guessed, all about the latest gossip and celebrities. Teens like to learn about their favorite celebrities, from sport stars to actors and musicians.
A few examples of these were Bop, Tiger Beat and Teen Beat. Never heard of them? Well unless you were a teen back in the 80s, I’m not surprised. Just like with most published magazines, they went downhill over time.
A Little Bit of Everything
Some teen magazines weren’t just focused on celebrities. Instead, they had a little bit of everything, from how to make your hair look better to the latest news. A few examples of these were Seventeen, Sassy, and Young and Modern.
These were a bit different because they catered to a larger audience. You didn’t necessarily have to care about what celebrities were up to in their spare time. Instead, you could actually learn a thing or two, as well as what was going on in the real world.
Like Music?
Yep, of course teens liked music in the 1980s. So it should be no surprise that they would read some of the most popular music magazines at the time. Rolling Stone, Spin, and Sheet music were a few of the big ones. I assume you’ve heard of Rolling Stone, but maybe not the others unless you’ve been around for a while.
These magazines would typically have a few different types of articles. They’d talk about the hottest bands of the day, as well as a few up-and-coming bands or artists. You would be able to read about where they came from, their personalities, and any new music they have coming up.
Get Fit
Fitness magazines have been around for a long time, including in the 1980s. The most popular was probably Muscle Fitness, but there were others that teenagers would read to learn more about getting ripped.
The magazine world was a bit different back then though. Today there are tens of thousands of health supplements to choose from, and all of them are supposed to be a miracle pill. Back in the 80’s, magazines were solely about producing good content- not just advertising drugs.
And More
There were dozens and dozens of different magazines in the 1980s. Even though there are only a few popular teen magazines of the 1980s still around, it’s still nice to look back and think of the “good old days” when things were a bit simpler. Sitting down to read a magazine instead of in front of a computer screen to learn about the world just has a nice appeal to it in today’s fast-paced environment.
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