What do all of the following videos have in common?
If you scrolled through your feed lately, you have probably seen the “2026 is the new 2016” trend. On our feeds, we suddenly see the resurgence of the Tumblr-era, 2010’s makeup and fashion trends, while everyone is listening to music from the same decade: it feels like we’re living in a time loop. But why are we so nostalgic for an era that only ended ten years ago? What is the reason why our brains crave the 2016 vibes?
As it turns out, the answer is both scientific and cultural.
Psychologists describe nostalgia as a bittersweet emotion that mixes longing with warmth[1]. Nostalgia is more than just a mood; it functions as a biological defence mechanism that helps people feel more socially connected and optimistic about the future during times of uncertainty. Experiments show that nostalgic reflection on the past can boost your mood, decrease loneliness, and help people feel grounded when the present feels overwhelming[2].
But why the 2010s nostalgia specifically?
Traditionally, trends tend to operate on a 20-year rule, resurfacing as a new generation discovers them. Think of the 2000s kids loving the 80s or the 2010 borrowing from the 90s. However, social media has accelerated this cycle into a 10-year loop. For many students today, the 2010s represent a clear line between before and after. It was the last era before COVID-19 and lockdowns. It was also the “pre-algorithm” internet with less curated and less brand-dominated feeds. In retrospect, 2016 feels like a simpler, more relaxed time before the constant downward spiral of global crisis headlines and AI slop.
Today, we aren’t just remembering 2016; we are treating it as a vintage aesthetic. TikTok’s “2016 filter” has generated hundreds of millions of posts. It turns a year into a vibe you can apply to your life. Younger Gen Z is reviving matte liquid lips, heavy cut-crease eyes, and 2010s fashion trends. People are deliberately seeking out the feeling of old platforms like Tumblr to escape the For You pages, pairing them with the 2010s music as if it just dropped yesterday.
Ultimately, our obsession on 2016 is not just about being “stuck in the past.” Rather, it is a modern coping strategy to deal with burnout and exhaustion. By reviving aesthetics, sounds and communities of the 2010s, we are reclaiming a sense of community and control over a world that often feels too fast and too heavy.
[1] https://www.inspirethemind.org/post/nostalgia-aching-for-the-ordinary
[2] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01219/pdf