But for all the technological advances of the noughties, the art of enjoying a great night out did not change.
For many people in Sheffield during the early 2000s, that meant heading to Kingdom or The Republic nightclubs, or to Bar Matrix.
This retro photo gallery captures happy times at those popular nightspots, all of which have long since been lost, during that era.
Bar Matrix was on Charter Square, in Sheffield city centre, across the road from the back of Debenhams, under the Telephone House tower. It would later become Nylon.
The Republic opened in the 1990s at a former steelworks on Matilda Street and earned legendary status as the home of the pioneering Gatecrasher nightclub before burning down in 2007.
Kingdom nightclub was on Barker's Pool in Sheffield city centre, at the site of the old Odeon cinema and Gaumont picture house, with the building currently undergoing a major renovation.
Do you have happy memories of nights out at any of these popular nightspots, or all three?
2. Pose
Andy Thorpe, Abbas Arenzoo, Alan Monkhouse and 'Lenny' at Matrix in Sheffield city centre on February 15, 2002 Photo: Jon Enoch
3. All smiles
Beccy Highman, Janet Parker and Nicki Gripton at Kingdom nightclub Photo: Jon Enoch
4. Happy times
Darren Sissens and Claire Buccieri at Matrix in Sheffield city centre on Saturday, February 15, 2002 Photo: Jon Enoch