The 1960s were a time of significant social, technological, and cultural change, but despite this, many of the ideas and beliefs that emerged during this time period have since been debunked. To show you some examples, here are 19 of the most surprising beliefs from the ‘60s that turned out to be completely false.
Smoking Isn’t Bad For You
During the 1960s, advertising promoted smoking as a healthy activity. As History.com points out, many doctors even endorsed cigarettes. Over time, however, extensive research has revealed the severe health risks associated with smoking, including lung cancer and heart disease, debunking the myth of its benefits.
Automation Will Lead to Unlimited Leisure Time
It was widely believed in the ‘60s that automation would reduce work hours, giving people more free time. Instead, automation has only increased expectations of how productive people could be. This has led to longer work hours for many, contradicting any vision of a leisurely future.
Nuclear Power Is Completely Safe
Back in the day, nuclear power was hailed as a safe and limitless energy source. While it does provide significant energy, several accidents, such as Chornobyl and Fukushima, have highlighted the dangers and long-term environmental impacts of nuclear power. As such, it has largely not been utilized as the main energy source by any country.
Margarine Is Healthier Than Butter
Health experts in the ‘60s promoted margarine over butter due to its lower saturated fat content. However, our understanding of nutrition has improved significantly since the ‘60s. Ultimately, later studies showed that trans fats, prevalent in margarine, are more harmful, leading to increased heart disease risk.
The Hovercar Is Imminent
The idea that hovercars would soon replace traditional cars captured the imagination of many in the ‘60s. Sadly, despite countless technological advancements, hovercars remain largely the preserve of science fiction, and there has never been a model mass-produced for everyday use.
Communism Will Replace Capitalism
During the 1960s, there was a significant belief that communism would triumph over capitalism globally. However, the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 signaled capitalism’s victory over communism. Today, there are very few truly communist states, and capitalism is the overwhelmingly dominant economic model.
Space Exploration Will End Poverty
In the ‘60s, many believed that the technological advancements required for exploring space would help end poverty on Earth. However, despite billions of dollars being spent on space exploration, very little of that technology has had a tangible difference on global poverty levels.
The Earth Will Become Overpopulated
Many experts predicted that the Earth would face catastrophic overpopulation by the year 2000, leading to mass starvation and societal collapse. However, advancements in agriculture and technology have helped sustain larger populations. Instead, experts now express greater concern about a growing aging population.
There Will Be A Magic Health Pill
There was a strong belief in the ‘60s that in the future, a single pill or series of pills would be developed to cure all diseases. While there have been a number of significant medical advancements, the complexity of diseases means that such a universal cure remains an elusive goal.
Aliens Will Make Contact Soon
With the dawn of human space flight, many people believed that contact with extraterrestrial life was imminent. Despite numerous attempts to reach out beyond the stars, definitive proof of extraterrestrial life has yet to be found, making this belief one of science fiction.
The Hippy Revolution Will Bring About An Era Of Peace
The ‘60s peace and love movements were seen as powerful forces that would end all wars. These movements had sizable impacts on music, art, and culture, but unfortunately, war remains an ever-present part of life. In fact, we are currently living through some of the most turbulent times in our recent history.
The Internet Will Only Be For The Government
When the internet was first developed, it was believed to be a tool strictly for government and military use. This couldn’t have ended up being more untrue; it has since evolved into a global platform accessible to billions, transforming everyday life in ways the ‘60s could not have predicted.
Pollution Will Be Solved by 1980
Decades ago, there was an optimistic belief that we would be living in a cleaner, less polluted world by the 1980s. Sadly, things have only got worse. Recently, scientists found microplastics in every place on Earth, including at the top of Mount Everest.
Computers Will Replace Teachers
The rapid development in computer technology led to the belief that they would replace teachers and transform education. While technology has significantly impacted education, the role of teachers remains crucial, and computers have become tools to aid, not replace, educators.
Everyone Will Have a Robot Servant
Robots were imagined as future household servants, handling daily chores and tasks. While robotics have advanced (you can now get a robot vacuum cleaner, for instance), the idea of practical, affordable robot servants for the average household is not yet a reality, making this belief more of a futuristic dream.
Plastic Is Harmless
The widespread use of plastic was once considered a miracle of modern science in the ‘60s, believed to be completely harmless. Unfortunately, it has since been discovered that plastic pollution poses severe environmental hazards and health risks, leading to ongoing efforts to reduce its use.
Brainwashing Is Easy and Effective
Developments during the Cold War fueled the fear that brainwashing was a simple and highly effective method of mind control. Thankfully, it has become clear over time that changing deeply held beliefs and behaviors are far more complex and difficult than ‘60s-era fears suggested.
Dietary Supplements Are Miraculous
In the ‘60s, dietary supplements were marketed as cures for various ailments. While some supplements provide health benefits, many claims were exaggerated, and some supplements have been found to have minimal or no impact on health. Instead, eating a balanced diet is recommended for good health.
The Ozone Was Self-Repairing
One of the most bizarre ‘60s beliefs that we now know to be untrue was that the ozone layer would repair itself without human intervention. This has been proven to be false; instead, it has taken immense changes in human behavior to address climate damage, and we’re nowhere near done.
Up Next: 18 Odd Hobbies from the ‘60s That Only Boomers Will Remember
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