The moment I had saved up enough pocket and babysitting money to get an iPod touch was truly life changing. It was slim, slick, and shiny, and my inner magpie was instantly obsessed. Touchscreens, at this point, still seemed like a future technology, something to be used in a science fiction film I wasn’t old enough to understand. My little fingers got tapping, and I sailed across the internet, searching for all soon-to-be teen delights; fanfiction, Tumblr GIFS, and British YouTube creators.
Now, what I value about this humble device is a bit more simple. My barely charging, cracked iPod holds endless forgotten photos and videos from my years at high school. There are moments that I’d completely forgotten about in this camera roll, which I might not have remembered without it. Of course, there are plenty of embarrassing snaps, but there are also selfies with friends I don’t see very much, and sweet exchanges over my Notes apps. Though it might not have been the purpose of the device at the time, my iPod touch is now a diary of my teen years.
The sweetest and most mortifying device of my life.