It's 2026 . . . and the trailblazing, cutting-edge trend on social media is: 2016. Yeah, revisiting what was popular 10 years ago, and using the hashtag #BringBack2016.
According to TikTok, searches for "2016" surged by 452% in the last week, and more than 55 million videos have been created using 2016 filters. And stats from Spotify show a 71% increase in "2016" playlists.
It's common for OLD to become NEW again . . . but usually it's a longer, generational cycle.
There's no explanation for WHY 2016 is trending again . . . but some say Gen Z'ers are already down on 2026, and want a "factory reset" back to early 2016, when things were simpler, more optimistic, and less divisive.
It isn't just a throwback fashion thing, it's also social media challenges (like the Mannequin Challenge and Chewbacca Mom), pop culture, music, and vibes.
But there's more to it than just nostalgia: The thinking is that the internet is less FUN now . . . because there's so much "brain-rot" and "A.I. slop."
Social media has also become more "curated" and "performative" now, and everything feels less authentic and, well, "normal."
So this is taking things back to when there was less JUNK online, and social media wasn't overloaded with intricately edited, "promoted" videos.
(What's Trending / BBC / The Guardian / USA Today)