Opinion: Why are we ‘bringing back 2016?’

Happy people enjoy 2016 on a palm-tree-lined beach. Art by Basil Allen.

Imagine the following: “Lush Life” by Zara Larsson is blasting through the car’s speakers as you stick your head out of the sunroof to greet the pink and orange sunrise, the warm breeze brushing against your skin as the car rushes past rows of palm trees on an afternoon in Los Angeles. That is what the new internet trend “bring back 2016” is all about.

But what is it specifically about the year 2016 that has so many in a chokehold?

Part of it is that a majority of younger millennials and Gen Z grew up listening to music from the 2016 era and remember it as a marker of a happier time. According to the National Library of Medicine, music can trigger nostalgic feelings in the brain, which then provoke memories of listening to that song previously. Due to this, many may be misremembering what 2016 was really like and associate it with more positive emotions based on the upbeat tone of the music released at the time.

Most of today’s young adults were either children or teenagers at the time and, in all likelihood, did not experience what countless TikToks are listing as the “2016 aesthetic” of exploring downtown Los Angeles as the sun sets with one’s friends. Despite that lack of experience, many people still wish to “live 2026 like it’s 2016” because of its positive connotations.

More likely, though, this desired switch back to 2016 has less to do with the past and more to do with the present. As the country heads into a new year, when tensions are rising between the United States and foreign powers, the economy is worsening and hope is at an all-time low, people are flocking to the comforting nostalgia of 2016. Mostly, Gen Z teenagers and young adults are yearning for a time when responsibilities were negligible and happiness was the primary concern.

Tech advancements could be exacerbating the issue. After the rollout of ChatGPT and other LLM chatbots, the unemployment rate for college graduates has risen to 5.8%, with the most affected being those attempting to work in computer science and architecture-related occupations.

CNBC states that “a college degree is often considered the best pathway to a well-paying job, but that may no longer be as true as it once was.” It is understandable that after seeing peers struggle to find a job and financially survive because of a seemingly uncontrollable beast that has weaved its way into daily life, young adults may want to escape to a time of simplicity when AI was an almost foreign concept and the iPhone 7 was the newest piece of technology one could own.

The desire to turn back to the past for comfort is not new. Many generations have lauded the past as a “greater era,” with the Roaring 20s, another era of technological advancement, being a prime example. Insider tells of the explosion in capitalistic growth of the 1920s and collective yearning for the 1890s, namely their fashion. A novel named “The Gay Nineties,” dedicated to illustrations of post-Civil War era fashion which “reflect, so honestly, the costumes and customs of their dear, dead youth,” circulated widely.

In the modern case, being nostalgic for a time when there were no worries is natural, especially in a time of such drastic change as the one we are currently living in. When life gets tough, everyone has something to turn to. Whether it’s a comfort show, friends and family, or, in this case, a specific time period, it is only natural to seek help and safety.

Ultimately, living like it’s 2016 again isn’t a harmful thing. Looking back to the past can be a fun escape from global issues and bring happiness in dark times, but only as long as we simultaneously continue to live in the present. Continuing to engage in hobbies, school, work and socialization is key to a healthy life, and reminiscing should not replace living in the current era; it should supplement it. If viewing 2016 through rose-colored glasses, or filters, makes it easier to get through the year, so be it.