May 1, 2026

2016; a full decade ago, a time full of sun, laughter, friends, and unicorn Frappuccinos. This wasn't just any other year, but it was an internet phenomenon. It was loud, colorful, and chaotic. We watched YouTube, tuning into channels such as Liza Koshy, Emma Chamberlain, and Team10. Participated in many viral social media trends like the water bottle flipping and the mannequin challenges. Everything felt so different at that time and as we are in the present, we can feel that nostalgia hitting us in the heart. While it seems like a long time ago, a lot of the trends and aesthetics are making comebacks 10 years later.

This was the year when Pokemon Go had everyone wandering around all day, when Vine would still give us humorous skits, and when Instagram and Snapchat were over-filtered and completely unpolished. This was a time where culture was thriving and positivity was prevalent. Social media wasn't fully curated yet, but that random energy brought something different that year and this is why many people reminisce over 2016 and are willing to bring back memories and trends to this year, especially during the summer. When summer hit, it was a more uplifting aura that radiated in the air. It's to the presence of social media and the music that came out that year that carried the influence and craze in 2016.

In 2016, social media grew intensely and was used in every home. It was the rise and engagement of mobile-first platforms with the usage of apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Musically just to name a few. This was the introduction of social media stories and highly-saturated filters that contributed to the aesthetic of the year. Media was also used in the 2016 presidential election to publicize the candidates. Another reason why this became so memorable for Generation Z was the significant music culture. The amount of music that came out this year was tremendous also. To the numerous favorite albums like Blonde by Frank Ocean and Anti by Rihanna and multiple genres like R&B and Pop blasting banger after banger on the radio.

Now in 2026, many people want to relive the mass nostalgia that occurred 10 years ago, so there are multiple things that have made a comeback. Music is a big part of this movement by resurfacing the Pop and EDM sound throughout the influencers and users using the songs in many different trends and edits. In 2016, there was a sense of unity back then. Currently there is a lot of division and different opinions that are weakening this country. Much hate being created and less appreciation showcased. In 2016 there was a sense of unity and love that was in the air back then and that's what makes this year memorable. Let’s hope 2026 will bring a similar sense of love, appreciation, and maybe even a unicorn frappuccino.