"Over the past few weeks, millions have been sharing throwback photos to that time on social media, kicking off one of the first viral trends of the year - the year 2026, that is. With it have come the memes about how various factors - the sepia hues over Instagram photos, the dog filters on Snapchat and the music - made even 2016's worst day feel like the best of times."
"But experts point to 2016 as a year when the world was on the edge of the social, political and technological developments that make up our lives today. Those same advances - such as developments under U.S. President Donald Trump and the rise of AI - have increased a yearning for even the recent past, and made it easier to get there. 2016 marked a year of transition"
Millions of people, especially those in their 20s and 30s, are sharing throwback photos from 2016 on social media, sparking a viral trend in 2026. The nostalgia emphasizes cultural markers such as over-the-top makeup, Snapchat dog filters, Instagram sepia tones, and music from artists like Beyoncé, Drake and Rihanna. Personal memories include carefree summers, Snapchat stories and feeling that everything was new and fun. Experts link the nostalgia to 2016 being a pivot point for major social, political and technological shifts, including the rise of Donald Trump's presidency and early AI developments. Those shifts have amplified yearning for the recent past.
Read at Fortune
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