If your social media feed has been looking less like the AI-centered grid you’ve come to know, and more like a grainy 2016 camera roll, then you’re not alone. From resurgence of old filters, to the sudden urge to post pictures from a decade ago, its official: 2016 is back. Across TikTok, Instagram, X, and Reddit, the hashtag #2016NOSTALGIA is exploding with users officially declaring that “2026 is the new 2016,” and even going so far as to ring in the new year with hoards of “Happy 2016!” instead of 2026.
But why are we all so obsessed with 2016 anyway? At the time, many called the year "spectacularly bad” with the major political shifts, increased global terrorism, high profile shootings, the Zika virus, and the death of many beloved celebrities. According to cultural critics, the 2016 infatuation is not just over the clothes or the music—it's about a desperate longing for a “simpler digital age.”
Existential psychologist Clay Routledge explained to NBC News that nostalgia often peaks when people dread the future. For Millennials and older Gen-Z’s, 2016 represents the last moment before the internet became a hyper-curated and toxic workspace. “People tend to be nostalgic when they're anxious about the future, or they're not sure what direction in life to take,” Routledge says.
In 2026, as we navigate the rapid integration of AI and "algorithm failure,” the messy, innocent, and spontaneous energy of 2016 feels like a sanctuary of not only easy fun, but also an escape from the vulturistic nature of our modern internet experience.
The visual language of the mid 2010s is also staging a massive comeback. Glamor and The New York Times have noted a pivot away from the “sad beige mom” minimalism we saw recently towards the bold, colorful and unapologetic trends of a decade ago.
We’re Talking…
The Makeup: Heavy brows, matte lipsticks, and the classic “cut crease” look
The Fashion: Chokers, skinny jeans, flannel shirts tied around the waist
The Tech: Wired headphones, the Iphone 7
Even the music is rebounding. Songs like The Chainsmokers,“Older,” and Zara Larsson’s “Lush Life” are climbing the charts again. Of course, not everyone remembers 2016 like the paradise being shown online—however, as Routledge notes, "nostalgia isn’t about historical accuracy; it’s about emotional recalibration.”
In 2026, we don’t necessarily want to go back to the politics of 2016 (although we aren’t far from where we were before)---we want want to go back to a time where the world felt less heavy. We yearn for the carefree feeling that came at a time where the biggest mystery was whether that dress was blue or gold.
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