This is what I recall from my second decade of life:
Television turning into a giant Howard Stern show because of Bill Clinton's twisted personal life.
Bush seeming like a centrist and winning the electoral vote in 2000 by a small number of votes in Florida. Given what I now know, I wish Gore had won despite being no fan of the "creator of the Internet".
The September 11th attacks, of course. They temporarily turned me into a hawk until the situation in Iraq deteriorated.
The boy band craze at its peak (IOW, at its worst).
Sagging pants being fashionable (though I never wore them).
Britney Spears before she went insane. Yes, she had no talent then either, but she wasn't the freak show she is today.
Nelly Furtado before she sold out.
Gwen Stefani when she was part of No Doubt (an excellent band) rather than a solo abomination.
Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin destroying Latin music.
Girls going crazy over Leonardo DiCaprio because of
Titanic, a movie I've never seen and don't care to see.
Pamela Anderson rather than Paris Hilton being the (if I can't say anything nice I won't say anything at all) of the day.
Mike Tyson's experiment in cannibalism.
The Reform Party falling apart (no loss).
Overall, I can't say I'm nostalgic. I never followed trends in toys or video games, so I can't comment on them. Wow! My above list has a rather mean tone, doesn't it? Sorry.