The concept of 'The Backrooms'—a viral internet horror phenomenon—has become a focal point for how younger generations visualize the 1990s. According to a critique by Kate Wagner in The Nation, Gen Z filmmakers are not depicting the decade as it actually existed, but rather as a stylized version curated through online forums and digital archives.

This trend highlights a shift in cultural memory, where the aesthetic of the 90s is filtered through the lens of 'liminal spaces' and internet-born urban legends. Wagner argues that these depictions rely heavily on the reproduction of nostalgic threads rather than lived experience or historical documentation. By focusing on the eerie, empty, and uncanny environments popularized by The Backrooms, creators are constructing a version of the past that feels more like a dreamscape than a reality.

While the article focuses on the creative output of Gen Z, it raises questions about the influence of digital subcultures on historical literacy. The piece suggests that as these viral aesthetics gain traction, they risk replacing the nuanced reality of the 1990s with a homogenized, uncanny aesthetic that prioritizes mood and atmosphere over the complexities of the era.