Since the end of 2025, people have been talking about bringing back 2016. On TikTok or Instagram Reels you might have seen posts saying “2026 is the new 2016.” But what does yearning for earlier times say about our culture today?
In 2016 I was only nine, and, although my biggest worry was whether my sister Maggie could drive me to soccer practice or not, I believe I have a somewhat interesting perspective on the year. At the time, my five older siblings ranged from the ages of 14 to 26. I got more of a full picture on what 2016 was like for children, adolescents and young adults.
Social Media
I was not allowed social media until the age of thirteen, so I only experienced whatever my friends and sisters would show me. Vine, Tumblr and Musical.ly were probably the most unique platforms from this era. Short-form content was prevalent on Vine and Musical.ly, and microblogging communities were active on Tumblr. Snapchat was also a widely used app at the time, and it is still known for its funky filters and streaks.
On top of these platforms, we also had access to YouTube. Shockingly, a decade ago, our attention spans could actually handle a 10 minute video. Some of the most popular channels were Liza Koshy, Dude Perfect, MyLifeasEva, Pewdiepie, Buzzfeed and Good Mythical Morning. The humor from 2016 YouTube videos was pretty ridiculous, but it indicates how simple life was at the time. If you had a bad day, you could just watch Liza Koshy go to the Dollar Store, and that would bring a smile to your face. This is a lot different than how we view entertainment today. When I get back to my dorm after a tiring day, I usually go on Instagram Reels. The issue with this is that we are never satisfied with just a few videos; we keep on scrolling, hoping that the algorithm will send us the perfect reel, which it unfortunately never does.
Music
2016 gave us such memorable music that we still belt out today. Some of the top songs of the time included EDM hits from Justin Bieber, DJ Snake, Calvin Harris and The Chainsmokers. Some notable albums of the time were Rihanna’s “ANTI,” Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman,”
”Lemonade” by Beyonce and “Views” by Drake. Though we did see some songs trend on social media, songs weren’t dependent on TikTok to become popular. The music at the time was insanely catchy, and because radio stations still had some relevance, we were hearing these songs everywhere. Looking back now, I relate with Twenty One Pilots’ 2016 hit “Stressed Out” — I also wish I could turn back time to the good old days, where me and my friends would sing all the ear worms at our Girl Scout meetings.
Unique Trends
One thing people like to point out about 2016 is all of the different fads. YouTube and Tumblr brought aesthetic lifestyle trends, such as putting fruit in Voss water bottles. We also had viral crafts: every tween was on the hunt for glue and borax to make different slimes. There were also the food trends. In 2016, nobody really cared about the possible health risks of red 40 and yellow 5, so companies put it in everything. Along with the colorful eats, froyo shops seemed to be everywhere. Orange Leaf, Sweet Frog and Yogurtland were the go-to stop if you wanted a sweet treat.
When talking about 2016 trends, we certainly cannot forget Pokemon Go. People who had previously stayed inside to play video games were now getting fresh air and steps while trying to catch Pokemon in a more interactive way. To this day, Pokemon Go is still one of the most downloaded gaming apps. It was so influential that even Hillary Clinton referenced it in her 2016 campaign.
The Ugliness of Today’s World
It seems like in 2026, we are plagued with political polarization, AI, phone addiction and an overall sense of hopelessness. The issues we had in 2016 appear to have been less extreme. Since the 2016 election, political polarization has increased drastically. This can be credited to the last couple administrations and quarantine, which put everyone in online echo chambers. In 2016, the average person didn’t have AI on their minds, but now we face it everyday. While using your phone, it’s nearly impossible to avoid AI, for our society has normalized the excessive use of phones. Now it isn’t just a thing that we use to talk to our friends, find inspiration or get comic relief. Because we spend so much of our time on technology, we are not only exposed to the positive, but also the negative.
So, is this 2016 trend just a way for us to mourn how sucky today’s life is? Maybe for some it is, but I see hope in a 2016 comeback. Looking back at the 2016 trends, I see that they celebrated creativity, fun and overall good vibes. To bring back 2016 vibes, we need to refrain from engaging in petty arguments online and appreciate the time we have with our friends. I encourage everyone to throw on their chokers, gather all their friends, head to the beach once the good weather hits, play some nostalgic tunes and find a froyo spot. The year is young and so are we: let’s act like it!
