The 2016 Filter, Why we Yearn for the Past

By: Maeve Moynihan Edited by: Sheza Qasim

The newest inspiration is being pulled from 10 years ago, and it is combining fashion with culture. When  2026 approached, the years actually spun back rather than forward, attracting the label of “2016,” pushing media consumers across the nation to reflect on their past. Similar to the comeback of Y2K fashion, 2016 is starting to become vintage, making it of prime interest to base current trends off of. It has influenced everything from fashion and makeup to music and dance, reminding users of the interests and fixations they had almost 10 years ago. Is it nostalgia, or is it just a sense of old “newness?” Whether the 2016 trend is here to stay or will just last a month, it has grabbed people’s attention, creating a name for not just the future of fashion, but the visual for the new year. 

The “2016” trend has surfaced on media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, reaching an audience that has both nostalgia and comfort for that time period. Seeing how big platforms like TikTok and Instagram are, the trend has gained a lot of popularity. TikTok even has a “2016 filter” that has made its way to a lot of users' profiles. Moreso, on TikTok, there has been a big comeback with old dance routines and video styles, bringing back the aspect of “Musical.ly.” Social media is becoming more colorful, fun, and carefree as people reflect on their childhoods, differing from the “polished” and “aesthetic” look that has been previously prominent.  

Another popular trend right now is to post photos from users’ camera rolls 10 years ago. The photos tend to be heavily filtered, with a “retro” look to them. The photos represent not only the resurface of old trends, but a reflection on the past of users’ childhoods. Many media users and influencers have brought back the use of iPods and digital cameras for photo taking, giving that “vintage” look instead of using the latest camera or iPhone models. Cameras give a sense of “permanence”, solidifying the memories of the photos captured. Reflecting on something as simple as an album of photos brings back a sense of nostalgia or comfort. 

Besides just photos and social media, the comeback of 2016 has also resurfaced with music. Spotify has seen an increase in 2016 throwback playlists with a 71% increase in the past year. Zara Larsson, a popular singer around the 2015/2016 era, just released a new album called “Midnight Sun,” bringing back a sense of that nostalgia with listeners being reminded of her song from 2015,  “Lush Life.” Larsson’s comeback brought back a sense of fun, carefree energy that many people today long for in their nostalgic feelings towards the past and a sense of childhood.        

In addition to media and music, fashion plays a huge role in bringing back 2016. Recent trends have revolved around “vintage” 2000’s style, bringing back the beloved “Y2K.” From athleisure to ripped jeans, little bits and pieces of 2016 style are making their way back into closets, and it tracks with the preceding comeback of the 2000s. Fashion trends tend to use past looks as inspiration for current “ins” and “outs”, bringing back certain styles and leaving some of them in retirement. The rise of skinny jeans, bomber jackets, and “it” bags has not only reminded society of the decade’s past “ins”, but has brought back a sense of communal interest. 2016 has the reputation of being “fun” and “colorful”, bringing a sense of fun back into styling today. 

With media, music, and fashion all overlapping with the “2016 effect,” it reminds consumers of their past. These three factors have such a strong hold over the current generation’s perspective on society as there is a strong consensus to base one’s interests on what's currently popular. But with the resurgence of 2016, it is a way for consumers to actually connect with their past selves, which actually makes them the ones “in style.” 

Familiarity is a large sense of comfort for people. Knowing what works versus what doesn’t fit in, that general understanding builds community. Finding a way to connect with a generation 10 years ago today helps make the concept of growing up that much less scary, as it is a reminder of growth. 

In society today, there is a large sense of divide. The world seems split into two halves, a main reason being due to political differences that make it seem impossible to be one, peaceful community. With these cracks, people are looking for something to lean on–for something to trust. When trends resurface, they remind consumers of what is working, or more so what has worked in the past. That gives people something to put their own time and energy into, bringing people together whether that means physically or even virtually through the outcomes of trends like the comeback of “2016.”  

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