The internet is collectively rewinding from 2026 back to 2016.
As we settle into the new year, a growing number of social media users have participated in an online trend that goes heavy on nostalgia.
What is the 2016 nostalgia trend?
A flood of TikToks and Instagram posts are focusing on the biggest moments and overall vibes that defined 2016.
It was a year soundtracked by Drake, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and The Chainsmokers; the internet was full of the Snapchat puppy-face filter, bottle flip challenge, and Harambe; and style was still being dominated by “athleisure” and “elevated streetwear” brands, like Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God and Ye’s Yeezy.
As reported by the BBC, TikTok searches for “2016” spiked 425 percent during the first week of the new year. The search terms “2016 songs” and “2016 makeup” also saw a spike of 290 perecent and 600 percent, respectively, between Jan. 1 and Jan. 11.
Celebrities are posting their 2016 throwbacks
Social media users, including numerous celebrities, have participated in the trend by sharing some of their favorite throwback photos from 2016. Kyle Jenner posted a carousel that included snaps of her rocking a Supreme box logo hoodie, pre-distressed clothes, and early offerings from her Kylie Cosmetics range.
Rap duo Rae Sremmurd uploaded a decade-old video of the Mannequin Challenge, typically paired with their 2016 hit “Black Beatles.”
Khalid, Karlie Kloss, and Charlie Puth also jumped on the 2016 train, posting their personal highlights from the year.
Why people are posting about 2016
So what prompted this nostalgia-driven trend? Stylus editor Katie Devlin said the answer is pretty simple: People are yearning for what they perceived as “simpler times.”
“We had just started to evolve past Tumblr-era cynicism, and from a social media perspective, the algorithms were less aggressive, and surveillance was less of a concern,” Devlin told Vogue.
“Of course, rose-tinted glasses play a factor, but in hindsight, there is a whimsical and carefree nature associated with that era that people are really nostalgic for.”
It's also worth noting that many people consider 2016 "the calm before the storm."
While it’s easy to associate the year with maximalist fashion, Instagram's Valencia filter, Beyoncé's Lemonade, and Pokémon Go, 2016 also marked a series of controversial and unfortunate moments. It was the year of Brexit, Donald Trump’s first presidential win, the Zika outbreak, and the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
As pointed by the AV Club, the phrase “Fuck 2016” was trending by the end of the year, proving society has a tendency to look at the past with rose-tinted glasses.
“Perhaps the fact that even a real dud of a year seems like a lovely refuge from the dark drama of 2026 speaks volumes, too,” culture writer Katie Rosseinsky wrote in The Independent. “All I can hope is that 10 years from now, we’re not all still glued to the latest social media platform, posting weird AI-generated selfies, and seeing them as a glorious reminder of better days."
