Have we traveled ten years forward or ten years back?
Some would say that 2016 is the golden year. But what made it so memorable was not because of what was trending, but because life just felt easier—with sunsets that lasted forever.
Whether or not 2016 was your golden year, why do we look back and yearn for what once was? Is it because of nostalgia, or could it be a desire to reinvent ourselves?
Social media has been a part of people’s daily routines for about three decades now, dating back to 1997. Trends would last for months until they died out and were replaced by newer trends. This year, those old trends from 2016 are coming back for some reason.
When I opened my Instagram app, I noticed that my For You page was filled with 2016 throwbacks. Renaming the year from 2026 to 2016 is not new; in fact, it has been going on since 2024. From Snapchat filters to Vines, they have all had their own fifteen minutes of fame, more like for an eternity. What was once a peak trend has become recycled and nostalgic.
A few popular trends that are making a comeback from 2016 are skinny jeans, bomber jackets, glossy and matte lipsticks, ankle boots, chokers and other accessories. While these may seem like everyday wear, you’d have to understand the fashion that was going on during this time.
Coachella 2016 basically sums up the whole idea of what it was like: crazy filters, “Tumblr girl” aesthetics and early influencer culture. Famous artists that were significant during this time include The Chainsmokers, Justin Bieber, Twenty One Pilots, Selena Gomez, and DJ Snake (who is my personal favorite).
None of these styles is new, but rather reused. It’s not unusual to see people recycling trends after they fall out of popularity. For example, 2014 was all about Tumblr. Sadly, it began to decline after 2013, and it later died as the most used social media platform between 2011 and 2014.
2016 is not only seen through fashion but also through a shared childhood experience. The lack of technology and social media use brought a deep sadness to many, because we might have taken that time in our lives for granted.
Before Covid-19, half of the world was like a fresh morning during spring. Things have changed since then, and hopefully, we have all fully recovered from what the pandemic has taken away from us.
Gen Z is often associated with social media trends. For example, Musical.ly was commonly used pre-pandemic, before TikTok became popular. Social media hasn’t really changed, but it has evolved as society has shifted. It could be that we all desire a carefree environment and want to bring back those slower days.
The most surreal part of this trend is that we don’t fully comprehend that ten years from today, everything we have now will become a memory. It is not just 2016 that brings us back to all the great memories, but every other year does as well.
Nostalgia will make us yearn to go back and re-live life the way it was, even if it never really was that way. Why do you think people romanticize the past?
So Nitros, enjoy your life to the fullest and don’t let nostalgia hold you back from achieving your dreams. Happy 2026—or should I say 2016— and may this year bring you longer sunsets!
And one last thing…#staylit.
