US EditionNostalgia For 2016 Is Taking Social Media By Storm
The trend features a 452% surge in TikTok searches for '2016' and 1.7 million posts using the hashtag, as users seek comfort in nostalgic memories amid current anxieties.
- On Jan. 1, 2026, social media users started posting that 2026 is the 'new 2016', sparking a trend that by Jan. 15, 2026 had people digging through camera-roll photos and videos.
- The trend stems from the decade mark of 2016 as social media users express nostalgia amid worldwide stress, with Clay Routledge, existential psychologist, noting stress and anxiety trigger nostalgia.
- Platform metrics illustrate the surge as TikTok reported the hashtag #2016 surged more than 450% with more than 1.7 million posts and searches for '2016 songs' and '2016 makeup' rose 290% and 600% from Jan. 1 to Jan. 11.
- Celebrities have amplified the trend by posting decade-old photos, with Lily Collins, Reese Witherspoon, and Karlie Kloss sharing throwbacks while Zara Larsson’s 'Lush Life' resurged in recent weeks and The Chainsmokers commented on the craze.
- Last year’s recession-indicator jokes reflected economic unease and coincided with the Conference Board consumer confidence index hitting a 13-year low in April, while critics recall 2016’s political tensions including Donald Trump’s election.
26 Articles
26 Articles
'I'm a millennial and here's why the 2026 is the new 2016 trend is stupid' - The Mirror
Helen McPherson, known for posting millennial content to her 93,600 followers on Instagram, recently shared a reel about why she thinks the '2026 is the new 2016 trend is stupid
Social Media Users Desperately Want 2026 To Be The New 2016, Sparking A Trend
The 2016 Trend or 2026 Is the New 2016 is a social media trend based on the idea that 2026 is the new 2016, denoted by several micro-trends and memes, such as sharing throwback images of yourself in 2016 vs. 2026, posting videos and memes using nostalgic content from 2016, and more. The phrase "2026 is the new 2016" started spreading online in December 2025 and the trend took off on sites like Instagram and TikTok shortly after 2026 began. As th…
2016 Makeup Is Coming Back With A Vengeance In 2026
By India Espy-Jones ·Updated January 16, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Pounds of contour. Boxy brows. Cut creases. Whether you love it or hate it, the “more is better” makeup from YouTube’s tutorial era had us in a chokehold in 2016. With everyone talking about 2016 nostalgia right now, TikTok currently has the hashtag #2016makeup reaching over 65,000 videos of creators reviving the makeup trends YouTubers like Aaliyah Jay and Ja…
From Ananya Panday to Sonam Kapoor, why 2016 is trending again on social media
Social media users are flooding feeds with throwback photos and videos from 2016, reviving old filters, fashion and music. The viral trend, summed up as “2026 is the new 2016,” has taken off across Instagram and TikTok, tapping into a shared sense of nostalgia.
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