"2026 Fever: Why Gen Z is obsessed with 2016"
The year 2016 has become a cultural touchstone for Gen Z, who can't seem to get enough of the decade's iconic trends and aesthetic. From the mannequin challenge to pink wall aesthetics, it seems like the younger generation is stuck in a nostalgic loop, reminiscing about a time that was supposed to be carefree but actually marked some turbulent events.
Journalist Daysia Tolentino notes that Gen Z tends to cherry-pick the good parts of 2016, ignoring the international and political turmoil that defined the year. Instead, they're fixated on the fun cultural moments – think "Closer" on repeat, maximalist makeup looks, and influencers dominating social media. It's as if this era represents a last chance at unity before the decade of turmoil that has followed.
Tolentino thinks this nostalgia might be a sign that young people are ready to break free from the cycles of escapism that have defined their online lives for years. As Gen Z grows up in a world marked by uncertainty and division, they're seeking comfort in a past time that was supposed to be sunny and optimistic.
But there's another explanation: the internet itself has created a culture of nostalgia and escapism. In an era where people are constantly bombarded with curated highlight reels, it's easy to get lost in a world of remakes and sequels, rather than looking forward to the future.
As Tolentino suggests, this obsession with 2016 might be a sign of hopelessness and disconnection from the present moment. And yet, there's also an energy emerging online that's about creating something new, introducing friction, and moving forward – a counterpoint to the nostalgia that has dominated social media in recent years.
For many Gen Z-ers like Tolentino, this is a concern – they can't imagine looking back on their own teenage years as the best times of their life. But perhaps this year will mark a turning point, where young people are ready to break free from the past and forge a new path forward. Only time will tell.
The year 2016 has become a cultural touchstone for Gen Z, who can't seem to get enough of the decade's iconic trends and aesthetic. From the mannequin challenge to pink wall aesthetics, it seems like the younger generation is stuck in a nostalgic loop, reminiscing about a time that was supposed to be carefree but actually marked some turbulent events.
Journalist Daysia Tolentino notes that Gen Z tends to cherry-pick the good parts of 2016, ignoring the international and political turmoil that defined the year. Instead, they're fixated on the fun cultural moments – think "Closer" on repeat, maximalist makeup looks, and influencers dominating social media. It's as if this era represents a last chance at unity before the decade of turmoil that has followed.
Tolentino thinks this nostalgia might be a sign that young people are ready to break free from the cycles of escapism that have defined their online lives for years. As Gen Z grows up in a world marked by uncertainty and division, they're seeking comfort in a past time that was supposed to be sunny and optimistic.
But there's another explanation: the internet itself has created a culture of nostalgia and escapism. In an era where people are constantly bombarded with curated highlight reels, it's easy to get lost in a world of remakes and sequels, rather than looking forward to the future.
As Tolentino suggests, this obsession with 2016 might be a sign of hopelessness and disconnection from the present moment. And yet, there's also an energy emerging online that's about creating something new, introducing friction, and moving forward – a counterpoint to the nostalgia that has dominated social media in recent years.
For many Gen Z-ers like Tolentino, this is a concern – they can't imagine looking back on their own teenage years as the best times of their life. But perhaps this year will mark a turning point, where young people are ready to break free from the past and forge a new path forward. Only time will tell.
but seriously, i feel like they're just trying to escape the chaos of our world 
and let's be real, social media can be super addictive 
it's hard not to get sucked into all the nostalgic vibes when every platform is serving up a constant feed of throwbacks and retro trends 
but at the same time, i kinda see what they're saying - we do need to break free from our online escapes and look towards the future 
. And what's up with the nostalgia loop? They're not learning from history or anything; they just want to relive the "good old days". But what about 2020 and 2021? Those were some wild times, bro! Maybe they're just avoiding the trauma that came with those years 
. Anyway, I think this whole thing is just a symptom of our generation's addiction to social media. We need to take a step back, look at ourselves, and figure out what's real and what's just a curated highlight reel 
.
. Like, who wouldn't wanna be nostalgic for a time when social media was still relatively new and everything felt super experimental? 
. At first, it was just about having fun, but over time, you realized that music has changed so much and what's "fun" is subjective. Maybe Gen Z is doing the same thing with 2016 – they're having fun reminiscing about the good times, but deep down, they know there's more to life than just looking back.
. We've all been there at some point or another – feeling lost and uncertain about what's next. But rather than getting stuck in nostalgia, maybe Gen Z should focus on creating something new and making their mark on the world 
its like they found the perfect decade of mixtapes & VHS tapes 
but seriously tho, i think its cool that they're embracing nostalgia as a way to cope w/ the uncertainty of our time 
maybe its not about ignoring the bad stuff but more about finding comfort in the good times 
but maybe its time for gen z to start looking at the future w/ some critical eyes 
I mean, who wouldn't want to go back in time and relive the '90s or 2000s? 
But seriously, is it really possible that Gen Z just genuinely loves 2016 more than any other year? 