Why is everyone posting about 2016? The viral throwback trend taking over Instagram
The nostalgic trend taking over social media
- A nostalgic social media trend, “2026 is the new 2016,” has emerged, with users sharing throwbacks from a decade ago.
- TikTok reported a 452 percent surge in searches for “2016” in one week, with over 56 million videos using a 2016-inspired hazy filter.
- The trend sees people reminiscing about 2016's pop culture moments, such as Beyoncé's Lemonade, the Mannequin Challenge and Drake and The Chainsmokers dominating music charts.
- Celebrities like Selena Gomez and Charlie Puth have participated, posting their own throwbacks from the year.
- Internet users seem to be jumping at the opportunity to reminisce on a simpler world than the one that exists now.