Fidget Spinner, wild Snapchat filters, the Mannequin Challenge; these were just a few defining moments of 2016. Now, a decade later, the new year has only just begun, but it seems the Internet is feeling nostalgic for a year when everything felt simpler. With #2016 trending on various platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), it seems the messy, expressive, and unapologetic self-identity has captured the hearts of Gen Z and Gen A.
For any Gen-Z teen, 2016 was all about a time when things felt simple and carefree. For many of us, it was the “golden era” of elementary school — a time before the world felt quite so heavy, where our biggest stressors were learning fractions and perfecting the latest viral dance. “I don’t remember much about 2016, but I remember that 2016 was the year of dances and amazing music,” says Elibelle Cheron, a freshman criminology major at Howard University. It’s true, teens all over the world were hitting dab or the woah in almost every dance.
Even if we weren’t “chronically online” yet, the culture was inescapable.
The year was a non-stop cultural reset. With music, for example, albums like Rihanna’s “Anti,” Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” David Bowie’s “Blackstar,” Radiohead’s “A Moon Shaped Pool,” Drake’s “Views,” and Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” ruled the radio. Pop radio was dominated by “tropical sounds” through hits such as The Chainsmokers’ “Closer,” Drake’s “One Dance,” and Sia’s “Cheap Thrills.”
2016 also saw the rise of SoundCloud rap and Melodic Trap. Rappers such as Fetty Wap and Chance the Rapper popularized a new style that bridged hip-hop and mainstream radio, creating accessible pop hooks, such as Fetty Wap’s exclamation of “1738!” that was both a lovable meme and a nod to his Remy Boyz crew. His 2014 breakout hit, “Trap Queen,” recently recorded its highest single-day streaming numbers on Spotify, over a decade after its release.
But Fetty isn’t the only artist to emerge from the shadows. Artists such as Ariana Grandé and Harry Styles were gearing up to go on tour, as well as Bruno Mars, who recently announced his first headline tour in nearly a decade. With all the excitement, this year may shape up to be a generational run just like 2016 was.
Between blockbuster theater runs and the rise of ‘Netflix and chill,’ 2016 kept our eyes glued to the screen. Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” hit theatres, where the entire world was glued to the edge of their seats, divided between Team Cap and Team Iron Man. “Trolls” and “Zootopia” also became family staples, where every kid (and their parents) had ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling!’ and ‘Try Everything’ on loop.
This year was also when “Stranger Things” debuted, launching an entirely new realm of sci-fi and horror on streaming services.
Social media encouraged users to spontaneously post random thoughts, hilarious memes, and spur-of-the-moment posts online. Musical.ly, the precursor to TikTok, became one of the most-downloaded free apps in 2016, reaching 70 million downloads. Through 15-second clips, creators and viewers began to dictate which songs and trends went viral.
“I wasn’t worried about what people thought of me or anything, and everyone was so corny and cringy, it was a good time, very sentimental,” says Makayla Brown, a freshman political science major at Howard University.
Now in 2026, it seems the whole world is feeling nostalgic, with many social media users and influencers posting highlight reels or memories from a decade ago, including Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, and more.
“I think people always romanticize the past.” Carlen Henson, a senior at DeKalb School of the Arts, says. “‘Retro’ stuff … is seen as cooler and more authentic. [In 2016] it seemed like the world was healing. Now, as times are kind of darker than usual, I think it’s a comfort to lean on nostalgia and celebrate it!”
There was still polarization and division throughout the news and politics.
Brown says, “I think people are saying 2026 feels like 2016 because of both politics and culture. In 2016, a lot of media and trends were aimed at Gen Z, and that time felt fun, colorful, and exciting. But it was also the year Donald Trump was elected, and I remember constantly seeing scandals, criticism, and a lot of division in the country. It felt like a major turning point.”
Between political investigations, misinformation being spread, and growing animosity between different parties, there was enough news to keep our hands full.
For example, the 2016 election seemed to set the tone of American politics for most of the year. In a contentious atmosphere across the partisan divide, both the Clinton and Trump campaigns were dominated by multiple claims ranging from systemic bias, misconduct, to legal improprieties and lack of transparency.
The internet has evolved into a complex melting pot of politics, generative AI, and culture, but for many of us, the noise is getting louder. Ten years ago, the digital world felt like something we could unplug from when it got too overwhelming; today, it is where we use our voices.
“I think Gen Z feels nostalgic for the music, trends, and online culture that made us feel happier and more connected back then,” Brown stated. “We are old enough now to want to shape the culture ourselves and make this era feel more positive.”
