For those of a certain age, personalizing our MySpace pages was the closest we came to feeling like hackers.
But that's nothing compared to the creative cyberdecks that Gen Zers are building these days.
The custom-built, portable computers — personalized both for purpose and aesthetic — have become increasingly popular with Gen Zers, especially women, who find the DIY projects a refreshing alternative to mainstream, mass-produced devices, per Newsweek.
Back to the future
Originally coined by William Gibson in his 1984 sci-fi novel Neuromancer, cyberdecks have long had an antiestablishment bent and attracted hobbyists who want to fully control the look and function of a self-built device.
Created for a single purpose, from retro gaming and coding to writing the next great American novel without the distractions of a full-fledged computer, cyberdecks typically consist of:
- Simple, inexpensive single-board computer like a Raspberry Pi
- Small keyboard or mouse
- Screen
- Custom enclosure
While cyberdecks often have a retro-futuristic aesthetic, many feature a minimalist, utilitarian design suited for a post-apocalyptic world.
But a growing number of Gen Z tinkerers are bringing a whimsical, creative spin to the genre using repurposed or 3D-printed parts and playful flourishes.
They're also attracting a huge audience on TikTok, sharing their cyberdeck journeys, tips, and final builds:
- A game built inside a promotional box from Dunkin'
- An audio journal built inside a cyberduck
- A mermaid laptop built inside a clamshell purse
Many designs also incorporate the aesthetics and devices of the early 2000s, which tracks with Gen Z's fascination with outdated tech and Y2K nostalgia.
More than just a viral craft project, cyberdecks appeal to many Gen Zers as a means to reclaim control over technology.
It's a quiet rebellion against reliance on the monochromatic closed systems of Big Tech with pre-assembled parts and proprietary designs. Many cyberdecks also tend to be purposefully off-line to avoid data surveillance and harvesting, and to escape AI homogeneity.
But cyberdecks are also just a fun way to experiment with hardware and software to create something all your own, rather than just consume
And for those of us still longing for that MySpace of old, spacehey offers a pretty good retro throwback.
Personal Tech
