Remember when Snapchat’s dog filters obsessed users, or when Vine grew through funny videos? Drake’s song “One Dance” played everywhere in 2016. Recently, people have started calling 2026 the “New 2016” with users posting old photos from 2016. While scrolling on TikTok, I noticed everyone doing old dance trends, and it felt like I had been transported back.
The app plays a major role in why people want to relive 2016. Users started seeing throwback songs and dance trends circulate back on their “For You” pages, helping the trends gain attention. A popular example comes from the dance “Juju on That Beat,” which originally went viral after its release in 2016 and became a major trend during the Vine era and recently resurfaced on TikTok. Users reposted old dances and moodboard videos that included songs and pictures of celebrities during the year 2016, bringing back the excitement and nostalgia at the time. While TikTok attracts a variety of ages, Gen Z experiences these trends as a way to relive 2016, while older generations reflect on the excitement of a time where the year seemed to be carefree.
One of the biggest nostalgic triggers is music, as artists released viral songs that year and dominated the charts. Artists like Justin Bieber, Drake, and Rihanna truly ruled 2016 with their hit songs. Some of the most popular songs are “Love Yourself” and “Sorry,” “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling,” and “Work” and “This Is What You Came For.” Recently, TikTok has brought these songs back through trends like recreating the “Sorry” choreography from Bieber’s music video.
Brands and influencers are also bringing 2016’s fashion back into style. The 2016 fashion with its chokers, skinny jeans, Adidas, and flannels had everyone hooked. In 2026, teens today are rediscovering and incorporating parts of its clothing trends in what they wear now, especially with brands reintroducing them again. “Vintage” looks, as they may call it, are appearing everywhere on social media with thrifted and Y2K (which stands for ‘Year 2000’), 2010s inspired outfits.
Beyond music and fashion, the internet culture also returned. It’s resurfaced with old sayings and memes returning and used again. Iconic memes like “Stop, I could’ve dropped my croissant!” and phrases like “What are thooosee!?” have resurfaced and still make people laugh today. It allows multiple generations to compare and contrast what social media was back then and whether it’s seen as iconic or “cringy” today.
While many people are enjoying this 2016 comeback, some are also critical of it. According to comments and discussions on platforms like TikTok and other media outlets, revisiting old music, fashion, and internet culture lacks new ideas and exploring new trends. Some teens disagree on repeating past trends and are in for new original trends.
Despite the criticism, nostalgia plays a powerful role in bringing 2016 back. Nostalgia refers to a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past. In this case, it served as a form of comfort for teens and has romanticized the year of 2016. Social media makes it easy to resurface old trends that make old memories feel new again. For many teens, 2016 seems to be the iconic year filled with feelings of being carefree through music, fashion, and internet culture.
As 2026 continues, it raises questions about whether this “2016” comeback era will truly last throughout the year or whether it will die out. Is what makes this year exciting the chance of reliving a time when pop culture was at its peak? It will be interesting to see how much of 2016 will be incorporated into this new year.
