Key Moments
1966: Children imagine life in the year 2000 | Tomorrow’s World | Past Predictions | BBC Archive
Key Moments
Children in 1966 predicted the year 2000 with fears of war, overpopulation, and automation.
Key Insights
Children's predictions for the year 2000 were largely pessimistic, focusing on dystopian scenarios.
Nuclear war and its consequences were a significant source of anxiety, with fears of annihilation and a ruined planet.
Overpopulation was a commonly cited concern, leading to predictions of cramped living conditions and resource scarcity.
Automation and the rise of computers were expected to cause widespread unemployment and a lack of meaningful jobs.
Environmental concerns included the potential for rising sea levels, altered weather patterns, and even a new ice age.
Some optimistic predictions included advancements in medicine and social equality, though overshadowed by negative forecasts.
THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WAR AND CATASTROPHE
A dominant theme in the children's predictions was the pervasive fear of nuclear war. Many envisioned a world devastated by atomic bombs, leading to immense craters, the melting of the Earth, and a complete obliteration of life. Some believed that conflict would be inevitable due to the proliferation of bombs, ultimately leading to the world's destruction or a scorched, uninhabitable planet due to radiation. This anxiety reflected the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War era, casting a dark shadow over their vision of the future.
OVERPOPULATION AND CRAMPED LIVING SPACES
The prospect of an overpopulated Earth was another major concern. Children imagined a future where people would be "squashed together" due to a lack of space. This led to predictions of people living in cramped conditions, possibly in flats piled high upon one another, or in drastically reduced living quarters. They foresaw a world where individual housing would be impractical, necessitating highly dense and potentially unappealing living arrangements, reflecting worries about resource strain.
AUTOMATION, JOB LOSS, AND BOREDOM
The advancement of automation and computers was viewed with apprehension, particularly regarding employment. Many children predicted that machines would take over most jobs, leading to mass unemployment. They foresaw a future where only individuals with exceptionally high intelligence (high IQ) would be able to secure employment, leaving others without work. This was linked to a broader concern about a "dull" and boring future, where a lack of productive roles for the majority would lead to widespread ennui and a sense of purposelessness.
ENVIRONMENTAL COLLAPSE AND CHANGING LANDSCAPES
Environmental concerns also featured prominently in the children's imaginations. They speculated about the impact of space exploration (like Sputniks) interfering with the weather, potentially causing sea levels to rise and submerge parts of England, leaving only highland areas. Some even considered more extreme scenarios, such as the sun burning out and triggering a new ice age, covering the Earth in ice. These predictions illustrated anxieties about humanity's impact on the planet and cosmic forces.
ADAPTATIONS FOR SURVIVAL: UNDER THE SEA AND IN DOMES
In response to overcrowding and environmental changes, children imagined dramatic adaptations to human living spaces. They theorized that populations might live under the sea, in submerged houses, or in large domes, perhaps in barren regions like the Sahara Desert. This reflected a sense of necessity, where survival would depend on radical technological and architectural solutions to overcome the limitations of Earth's surface and accommodate vast numbers of people.
CHANGES IN ARCHITECTURE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
The children also predicted shifts in the aesthetics of human habitation and the way food is produced. They anticipated a move away from traditional square houses towards more "curved and artistic designs" to optimize space. Furthermore, they foresaw a future of intensive, "battery farming" for livestock, where animals like sheep and cows would be kept in buildings and artificially reared for maximum food yield, rather than allowed to graze freely.
DOUBTS ABOUT A PLEASANT FUTURE AND SOCIAL CHANGES
While the overall tone was pessimistic, a few more hopeful predictions emerged. Some children spoke of advancements in medicine, leading to more cures for diseases and fewer people falling ill. There was also a nascent idea of social progression, with the expectation that racial and economic divides might diminish, leading to greater integration and less prejudice between different groups of people. However, these optimistic notes were generally overshadowed by the prevailing sense of dread.
UNCERTAINTY AND A SENSE OF IMPENDING DOOM
Many children expressed a general feeling of unease and uncertainty about the future, with some directly stating they were "not looking forward" to living in the year 2000. They perceived the present world as being in a "terrible state," and projected these anxieties forward. The overwhelming sentiment was one of limited control over these impending negative changes, whether they stemmed from human conflict, technological advancement, or natural forces.
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Children imagined futuristic jobs such as spaceship pilots to the moon, robot judges in robot courts, or undertakers for computers. Some also envisioned returning from hunting nuclear bombs or dealing with cabbage pills for breakfast.
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