Social media users are revisiting 2016 as a trend sweeps across platforms in the opening weeks of 2026.
Users on Instagram and TikTok have posted content featuring filters, archived photos and videos from a decade ago, with posts captioned “2026 is the new 2016.”
The posts show carved eyebrows with Snapchat’s puppy dog filter and iPhone pictures of people playing Pokémon Go.
Why 2016 is trending on social media in 2026 as users share throwback posts
TikTok reported searches for “2016” surged by 452 percent on the platform in the first week of the year, according to the BBC. More than 56 million videos have been made using a filter inspired by the year.
Celebrities have participated in the trend. Selena Gomez posted pictures of herself on tour at the time. Charlie Puth posted a video of himself lip-syncing his song from that year, We Don’t Talk Anymore.
The year marked the 10-year anniversary and featured pop culture moments. Beyoncé released Lemonade. Taylor Swift debuted her hair at Coachella. Rae Sremmurd’s Black Beatles inspired the Mannequin Challenge. The Chainsmokers and Drake were on the radio. Vine was operating before the app shut down in January 2017.
Internet users appear to be using the opportunity to remember 2016 before the coronavirus pandemic, before two terms of Donald Trump as president, and before AI-generated content spread on social media.
