Advertisement
Diana Marua reminisces about childhood games and life before social media and online pressure
10th August, 2026 09:53 AM
Kenyan content creator Diana Marua has taken millennials down memory lane, reminiscing about a childhood she says was free from smartphones, social media, and the pressure to keep up with online trends.
In a post shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, August 9, 2026, Diana recalled some of the simple activities that kept children entertained before social media became part of everyday life.
Her message focused on a time when children spent more time playing outdoor games, watching television and waiting for special moments to have their photographs taken.
Life before social media
Diana said she misses the days when people did not have to deal with online comparisons or the pressure to follow every new trend.
She called on millennials to remember a period when entertainment was largely found in neighbourhoods and homes rather than on mobile phone screens. “Millennials, let’s gather here. I miss those days when there were no phones, no online comparisons, no social media pressure or pressure to keep up with trends!” she said.
She also remembered the excitement of waiting for photographers to visit and take pictures, instead of having phones capable of capturing hundreds of photographs in a single day.
Diana asked her followers whether they remembered waiting for the Kodak photographer to arrive on an unexpected day, describing it as one of the experiences that shaped childhood memories for many millennials.
Games that kept children busy
Before video games and social media became common forms of entertainment, children often created their own fun using simple games played with friends. Diana mentioned games such as Kora, Bano, Brikicho, police and robaa, which were familiar to many children growing up during that period.
The games offered a way for children to spend hours outdoors, often with little more than friends and an open space. She also recalled the practice of barter trade, where children could exchange items they had collected for something they wanted.
Among the memories she shared was exchanging soda bottles and old shoes for basins featuring “Mare Mare”, a popular practice that formed part of the childhood experience for some families.
Television was part of the fun
Television also played a major role in the entertainment of that generation. Instead of scrolling through streaming platforms or social media, families gathered around television sets to follow their favourite programmes and soap operas.
Diana mentioned Bold and Beautiful and The Promise among the programmes that captured the attention of viewers at the time. For many viewers, following such shows became part of the daily routine, with families and friends discussing the latest episodes.
A different childhood experience
Diana acknowledged that younger generations may not fully understand the experiences she was describing because technology has changed the way children socialise and entertain themselves. “Gen Zs will never understand, but oh well! The good old days,” she concluded.
Her post has highlighted the difference between childhood then and now, while reminding millennials of a period when entertainment did not require an internet connection.
For Diana, the memories are a reminder of a simpler time when games, television, barter trade, and occasional photographs were enough to keep children occupied.
