Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Jan. 1, 2025.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Jan. 1, 2000, an anxious world held its breath as computers silently switched to the year 2000, but the dreaded “Y2K bug” caused few serious issues.
Here is how the Deseret News editorial board recapped the issue:
“Someday, an historian will write the definitive study of the by-then long forgotten Y2K scare, drawing smiles from some about those quaint turn-of-the-century folks who worried needlessly about major worldwide disruptions. When that story is written, we hope it is presented as a triumph of global cooperation. That is the only accurate spin.
“When Utah Sen. Robert Bennett began his dire warnings more than two years ago, he was talking about a very real danger — one that could have disrupted economies and communities. Today, after a peaceful New Year’s weekend that featured only a few minor glitches, he may in retrospect seem like Chicken Little. In reality, he was more like Paul Revere.”
It is estimated $100 billion was spent in the United States to prepare for the change of computer systems and other issues from Dec. 31, 1999 to Jan. 1, 2000.
Newspaper coverage of the preparations and the aftermath was extensive.
Here are some articles from Deseret News archives about the Y2K phenomenon, the worries over the end of normalcy and then the reflections on so much wasted worry:
“$100 billion to ‘fix’ Y2K was wasted”
“Who was responsible for Y2K hype and panic?”
“The man who got Utah through Y2K is retiring today”
“Y2K offers opportunity to be a good global neighbor”
“Y2K and the lessons it taught”
“Y2K bug didn’t sneak up on us — we weren’t looking”
“Centenarian discovers the Y2K bug is for real”
“Some Y2K glitches reported around U.S.”
“World goes back to work with few delays from Y2K bug”
“Christian Y2K alarmists irresponsible”
“Y2K bug: from time bomb to damp squib”
