Put on your chokers and take a mirror selfie, because rumor has it, 2016 is back! People on social media have decided that 2026 is the new 2026.
According to WIRC News, people online have started to post old photos of “throwbacks” from 2016. All of the memories are flooding social media feeds, but it is not just the photos. People have started to speculate that the old drink from Starbucks called the Unicorn Frappuccino might return as well, according to Daily Dot.
Is that true? Well… not exactly. While it was the most popular drink at Starbucks back in 2016, it was also one of the hardest drinks to make. A lot of the syrups that they used were very expensive. In addition, it was a chaotic drink that a lot of the workers at Starbucks did not enjoy making because it was time-consuming and messy, according to Business Insider. Still, there are a lot of people who did not get to try the drink back then or people who just want to have it again, but it is not possible the drink will resurface.
It is not just the drink that is being talked about. Things like old music, clothing style and even apps from that era have started popping up everywhere, reminding everyone just how loud 2016 really was.
A lot of the iconic things from 2016 are being brought back, such as fashion. The clothing trends from 2016 and the aesthetic at the time were known as the “Grudge Aesthetic,” according to Orient Palms. It was the chic look of skinny jeans paired with chokers and bomber jackets. Oversized hoodies and flannel and denim jackets were also staples. It had been the cool, popular girl style back then. The real question is, will people actually wear the clothing style again?
In 2026, social media is faster and flashier. The apps are sleeker, algorithms are smarter and everyone is online but never present in real time. That is why the idea of 2026 becoming the new 2016 feels so appealing. Back then, trends did not feel forced or like we needed to do them. They happened naturally, spreading from app to app without being sponsored or monetized within seconds.
University students now were kids back in 2016, watching older siblings post mirror selfies with flower crowns and Tumblr captions. Now, we are the ones reposting the low-quality photos and rediscovering old vine compilations.
Music is circling back, too. Playlists titled “2016 bangers” are taking over streaming apps, featuring artists like Rihanna, Drake and The Chainsmokers, according to Harpers Bazaar. 2016 is often referred to as dance music’s golden year, and its nostalgia is hitting in 2026, according to Revolution 935. The only difference is that people are more aware of it this time.
Even the way people talk online feels familiar. Sarcastic humor, chaotic memes and ironic captions seem to be making a comeback. Social media apps are trying to bring back the same energy, but it is hard to pick back up old things from the past when we are going forward into the future.
So is 2026 really the new 2016? Not exactly. The clothes do not feel the same, the apps feel full of unnecessary things, and no one really wants the Unicorn Frappuccino back. It is just the feeling of nostalgia we want back. Maybe 2016 was not perfect, but for a lot of people, it represents a moment when the internet felt like an escape instead of a responsibility. In 2026, that feeling is something everyone seems to be craving again.
