Creative trends of foggy pastel filters, upbeat pop songs and expressive wardrobe options are becoming more and more popular on social media with one month into the new year.
What is with the sudden trend reset? And why does it feel so familiar?
“There’s a lot of crazy stuff happening right now, so people are just trying to find a space where they can feel creative, free and happy again,” English teacher Abigail Dortch said. “I think they’re kind of looking for an opportunity to bring back those feelings.”
The trends of 2016, just a decade old this year, are now flooding the feeds of millions of users. Videos all across social media, including TikTok and Instagram, are sending waves of nostalgia to teens and adults that grew up in that era.
As soon as the trend hit the internet, influencers started recreating their favorite moments from the era and even coming up with new ones that pass the 2016 vibe check.
“A lot of people I follow (that are) my age have been reposting pictures or stories and stuff of 2016,” English teacher Erin Ancelet said.
Since going viral everywhere, opinions show that people are either against or all in for the 2016 mentality.
With previous years attempting to trend travel back multiple decades, it isn’t a surprise that it has shown up once again.
“I don’t think it’ll happen,” sophomore Brooklyn Deckard said. “People will say they’re doing it and they’ll say they’re embodying it, but I don’t think they’re actually going to do it.”
While some aren’t interested in the 2016 aesthetic because a new year usually means leaning towards new developments, others find the viral trend refreshing.
“I think it’s cute, especially because Fetty Wap is out of jail, so everyone’s super excited about that,” junior Tiffany Quach said. “I think it’s just bringing back good memories from Covid, before that.”
Businesses including Hollister, Starbucks and Pink are even rumored to resell some of their old loved products, bringing fans back to nostalgic excitement.
Because of the excitement and wishes to spread the trend, it is possible that the rumors are false.
On some social media apps, users would bring up the return of the Unicorn Frappuccino, which was sold for a limited time at Starbucks in 2017. However, there are many employees that work there and have said they have never heard of it, nor did they think it possible to come back.
Still, fans continue to reminisce about the carefree moments of 2016, even if they didn’t get the chance to experience all the trends they wished they could.
“I did the mannequin challenge with my sisters,” freshman Elijah Beckham said. “I’ve seen videos of my sister being in high school (during the era) and having fun, so I think it’s cool that people are getting the chance to do that stuff again.”
From the ‘Lisa or Lena?’ challenges and musical.ly trends to Justin Bieber and slime, 2016 is known as one of the most well-known and liked years of the 21st century.
“It was a lot of being around people you loved and your friends,” Dortch said. “It was kind of living in the moment and doing the stuff that you like doing and having that community while you did it.”
With this blast from the past’s upgrowing popularity, what other eras could come back in the future years?
