"By the time they get into their 20s, every generation seems to have nostalgia for one year from their teenage years. For people in my generation (Gen X), that year is usually cited as 1994-the final year before the internet really started taking hold. But if a recent trend on TikTok is anything to go by, the year Gen Z is most nostalgic for is 2016."
"Along with the phrase, TikTokers are posting throwback pictures to when they were younger, listening to songs popular a decade ago, and reminiscing about how the world just seemed like a more stable and safe place in 2016. It's unclear exactly why or how this trend gained critical mass in the last few days, but at the start of any new year, it is natural to reflect on past years and compare how we and the world have changed over time."
Generational nostalgia often focuses on a single teenage year by the time people reach their twenties. Gen X commonly points to 1994, while Gen Z shows pronounced nostalgia for 2016. TikTok users have popularized the phrase "2026 is the new 2016," sharing throwback photos, decade-old playlists, and memories of greater perceived stability in 2016. The rapid spread of the trend is not fully explained, but the ten-year interval commonly anchors nostalgic reflection because it reveals clear change without foggy memory. Social platforms accelerate and amplify collective nostalgic moments around such anchor years.
Read at Fast Company
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