Celebrities Are Taking Us Back To 2016 In The Latest Online Nostalgia Trend

Why 2026 Feels a Lot Like 2016 Again

It might be 2026, but if you take a stroll through TikTok or Instagram, you'd swear it's 2016 all over again. The internet, ever the nostalgic place, has decided the past is the new playground. "2026 is the new 2016" has become the catchphrase as social media lights up with throwback selfies, retro filters, and curated camera-roll dumps that scream mid-2010s.

Celebrities are embracing this trend with open arms. Why wouldn't they? It's a low-effort way to connect with their fans while riding the wave of high engagement.

“Heard it was 2016 again?” posted Charlie Puth, sharing a clip drenched in those heavy filters that defined the era.

The Essence of the Trend

The trend is simple – post something distinctly 2016, and let the audience take over. This could be a retro selfie, a nostalgic "ten years ago" photo collection, or even a fresh video that mimics the 2016 aesthetic with vivid filters and music from that time. The term "2016" sets the mood instantly for anyone scrolling through their feed.

One key visual element is the use of the "Rio de Janeiro" filter on Instagram, creating a warm, surreal vibe that feels both familiar and distant. It's like a time capsule, only this one is wrapped in a sunset glow.

How Celebrities Amplify the Nostalgia

Celebrities are experts at taking a trend and making it a sensation. Charlie Puth and Hailey Bieber are among those leading this nostalgia train. Puth's 2016 hit "We Don’t Talk Anymore" with Selena Gomez makes frequent appearances, whether in clip form or as a soundbite.

Hailey Bieber adds her twist with TikToks accompanied by MadeinTYO’s "I Want (Skr Skr)," pulling in familiar faces like Kendall Jenner and Justine Skye which instantly turns a simple TikTok into a viral moment. Fans eagerly join in, sharing their own trips down memory lane in the comments.

Nostalgia as a Comfort Blanket

While the trend is bustling, it's not about rekindling the past's political or disaster-laden moments. It's about reaching out for the cultural essence of that time – an era that felt more connected and less overwhelming.

Nostalgia serves as a balm for today's fragmented feel. As one culture journalist noted, there's a longing for the "simpler" and "more optimistic" online world of 2016. Like all internet trends, this one blazed bright and moved fast, but it underscores a desire for more communal, low-pressure fun.

If a throwback to 2016 helps people reconnect with past joys, it's less about aesthetics and more about craving a simpler digital world.