Social media usage has increased and evolved over the past decade. With new apps, trends, updates, and more, social media is more popular now than ever. The latest trend on social media is how this year is “the new 2016.”
With fashion trends consisting of chokers (a type of necklace), bomber jackets, Timberland boots, skinny jeans, Nike, and Kanye West’s Yeezy line with Adidas were the latest trend giving the world a 90’s nostalgia.
Fashion was not the only thing trending, but also fun drinks, music, and social media challenges took the world by storm. With unicorns and tie-dye being a part of many outfits, the year truly stood out.
“Yes, 2026 is the new 2016 because older trends are coming back like the Starbucks Unicorn drink and Snapchat filters,” junior Aubria Harris said. “I also feel like the vibes are back and everyone is happier.”
Now that it’s 2026 and those same trends are resurfacing, many people may be looking to either escape the past or revisit it.
“I feel like people are trying too hard to make it something, which you really can not,” senior Brian Clark said. “2016 and everything with it just came naturally.”
Rewinding time by ten years perhaps takes people back to a more youthful era in their life. Meaning some people were in elementary, middle, or high school, while others were just beginning a new chapter in life—all during key years of growth and change. Those are the years were individuals start to develop their uniqueness.
“My 2016 was my first year teaching,” science teacher Nick Miljevic said. “I was your stereotypical first year teacher, super nervous, and teaching by the book.”
2026 could be defined as the year of shift. For example, Hilary Clinton accepted Democratic nomination for president on July 28,2016. Or the shift in the pop culture, specifically music, when the Legendary musician Price (Prince of Funk) died at 57, caused many fans to feel a great loss.
2016 could also be defined by the pop culture of entertainment, social media, fashion and more. Artists like Beyonce, Drake, Zara Larsson, The Chainsmokers, One Direction and more released top chart songs. Many people view 2016 as a pivotal year in music, while others think otherwise.
With artists like Harry Styles, Zara Larsson, and Bruno Mars releasing new music and trends like Timberland boots and Starbucks drinks making a comeback, many people feel that 2016 is coming back better than before.
The vibes were high but many people followed the latest trend which brought society together in a sense while also acting as a division factor for individuality. Whether or not 2026 is the new 2016, is a completely driven by the mindset and opinion of the individual.
“I think that 2026 could be the new 2016,” senior Rana Stevens said. “I’m not sure yet, only because we barely are getting to the end of the first month. However, 2026 has been pretty fun, so far. It is kind of nostalgic, because I’m at a point in my life where I feel exactly like the people I looked up to in 2016, but I wouldn’t say it’s because we hit the year 2026. I think it’s because we’re all growing as people, and we’re all teenagers.”
With the new year here and that same feeling of shifts and changes manifesting, the vibes for a great year are high. 2026 has just begun and so have the lives of many others.
