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Children definitely still experience something similar via small/unknown YouTube channels, games, Roblox games, fandoms, etc. Sure everyone knows the big famous stuff, but that's the same as pre-2000s kids too.
Yeah, obscure interests are hardly a thing of the past. If anything it's only gotten stronger, people of all ages can now be sucked so far down the fandom rabbithole that they lose sight of it being their obscure interest.
Although the way it used to be, kids would have access to one obscure thing, and so that's their one chance at having an obscure interest. That's changed, kids now get much wider choice.
Edit: Clarity
Soft of, but it's not the same as watching golden child and half of jewel of the Nile 100 times.
yeah but they're choosing to watch that out of millions. It's not because that was literally just what was in the house so it was that or nothing.
Ah, good distinction!