A study published by the New York Post found that about 43% of Generation Z prints their photos—higher numbers than in previous years but still far from the “pre-internet” era.
Physical photo albums seem to be experiencing a “revival” among younger generations, but their golden age is undeniably behind us. There have been numerous natural evolutions in how we capture moments, with one of the most popular being video chat. That’s what we’ll discuss in this article.
One of the defining characteristics of modern-day memory capturing is instantaneity. In the past, developing film was a necessary step. Today, we can see the results of a photo immediately, dramatically changing how new generations experience this process.
Below, we’ll explore five contemporary aspects of capturing moments: video chats for online connections, the growing emphasis on social media, cloud-based media storage services, live streaming, and dating apps.
1. The rise of video chat for online connections
Now, we come to what’s mentioned in the title: video chat! This innovation has transformed the way we communicate online. Essentially, video chats are the natural evolution of traditional text-based chats, adding the crucial element of real-time video communication.
Platforms like Instacams.com offer video chat services for both romantic connections and friendships. More than just a way to capture moments, video chat serves as a starting point for relationships with people with whom users will later share meaningful experiences.
2. Social media as a digital archive of moments
Perhaps the most significant shift in how we capture moments is the prevalence of social media. Instagram, for example, can easily be seen as the modern version of physical photo albums—with the key difference that anyone in the world can access it.
Beyond that, there are also “stories,” “fleets,” and similar features for temporarily sharing photos and videos. In these cases, media isn’t permanently archived but remains accessible to friends and followers for a limited time—an option that didn’t exist in the past.
3. Live streaming: sharing moments in real time
Often associated with gaming, live streaming allows users to broadcast a continuous video feed while interacting with their audience. This trend is particularly strong among Generation Z, as we see daily.
Additionally, most live streaming platforms—such as Twitch—offer recording options, making them an alternative way to capture moments. In this case, the recorded moments are those shared with followers through an online video feed.
4. Cloud storage for personal media
Many people don’t print photos but also prefer to keep their captured moments private. The solution? Cloud storage! This service has been around for some time and is becoming increasingly popular among internet users.
The advantages of cloud storage include free services and the ability to share photos only with selected individuals. However, concerns about privacy and security remain a major issue in online storage services.
5. Virtual reality and artificial intelligence experiences
We can’t discuss the evolution of capturing moments without mentioning virtual reality (VR) experiences. Beyond the Metaverse and the enhanced possibilities of video chat, VR offers immersive environments that can be shared and recorded for future memories.
Although not yet widely adopted, VR experiences have strong potential to shape the future of memory capturing—especially as artificial intelligence advances and enables deeper connections between distant individuals.