I'm Not Okay is a rallying cry from a generation whose identity was spread across virtual infinities against the uncertain futures of a new millennium.

Emo, short for Emotional, nods to a scene where teenage feelings of isolation, outsidership and disillusionment weren't hidden, but instead expressed raw emotions across MySpace, Bebo and Livejournal. This exhibition highlights the years 2004 - 2009, a pivotal era when bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Finch sparked a transatlantic exchange, fuelling a distinct UK movement led by acts such as Funeral for a Friend. The ethos of Emo resonated deeply with a generation, channeling collective teenage melancholy into a subculture that thrived in cyberspace just as well as grotty basement venues. Emo wasn't just a scene, it was the only way of living, the only way we could envision our futures.

Featuring personal photos snapped on early digital and mid-00s phone cameras, content for this exhibition has been digitally unearthed by the Museum of Youth Culture from old hard drives and Photobucket accounts.

With thanks to Drop Dead Clothing who have generously loaned archival garments from the era. Drop Dead was established in Sheffield, UK in 2004 by Bring Me The Horizon frontman, Oli Sykes in his bedroom at the age of 16. From there it has grown into a leading alternative fashion brand and has not only evolved with the culture but shaped it, from the early MySpace-era days to now, being a globally recognised brand.

Finally, a huge thank you to all the Emos who have shared and submitted their photos, screenshots, collages, posters, memories and diary entries to the exhibition and archive. We set out to document the lost subculture of wiped servers, deleted profiles and binned mobiles, instead we began our most successful callout to date, hearing from Emos across the globe who remember the 2000s like they were yesterday. This exhibition is the Museum of Youth Culture's first retrospection on one of the earliest internet subcultures.

We welcome everyone to attach their memories to the memory wall, and to continue sharing memories and submitting photos at www.museumofyouthculture.com/submit.