With only a few weeks left in 2025, and this year being one of the most tumultuous in recent memory, from politics to social media and beyond, many people are looking forward to starting fresh on January 1st. However, as we approach the new year, a wave of nostalgia begins to sweep the country as memories from the past decade start to take shape. When the new year hits, 2016 will be 10 years ago: a concept a lot of people will struggle to believe since many still remember it like it was yesterday. From trends like fidget spinners and bottle flips to a prime era of YouTube and Vine, 2016 has been held in the hearts of many more fondly than most years. However, as we approach the 10th anniversary of the legendary 365 days, many people have been seeing a slow rise in the era of 2016’s return.
The first signs of 2016 returning have been in the entertainment world, as celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber are treating their fans with a throwback. Kylie Jenner, who was known for always dyeing her hair in 2016, has recently dyed it pink, bringing up memories of her past popularity on Snapchat. Ariana Grande did something similar, dyeing her hair brunette and bringing back her iconic look from the time of her mass growth in fame. Justin Bieber, who released his album “Purpose” in 2016, just released a new album that will bleed into the start of 2026. Beyond the music notes, the television industry has some nostalgia in store as well. Stranger Things, which had its debut season in 2016, will be releasing its finale the day before 2026, making it one of the major talking points once the new year begins.
Social media also longs for the nostalgia of 2016. So much so that it has recently become a trend to start spreading all over TikTok to revert memes to 10 years ago, called the Great Meme Reset. With issues of brainrot and memes such as the quarterzip and “6-7” becoming more popular, many people across numerous internet platforms want memes to go back to how they used to be: simple, funny, and actually having some sort of meaning. Memes like peanut butter jelly time, do you know the way and nyan cat are some of the focuses of this reset. People want to turn back the clock and go back to the things Generation Z fondly remembers from their childhood.
While some hope that things go back to the way they were, it begs the question: Is the past truly better? Admittedly, many disasters happened in 2025 that it would be impossible to list all of them in this article. So, with a new year approaching, many simply want the pleasure of when they believed life was simpler– a time when many look back and think of how bright life once was. However, the past is the past for a reason. While it is obviously our nature to have fond memories of our younger years, we also have to remember that 2016 was not perfect. No year is without its issues; it’s simply the level of issues that people are okay with avoiding when looking back. The thing is, though, we can have both. Just because things like fidget spinners are not popular now does not mean they are forbidden from society. There is a way we can still enjoy the past while looking ahead to the future. There’s an old saying that applies to this very scenario: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present. We can cherish the past, but we can’t stop and rewind, or else we will miss everything ahead.
Photo Credit: “Justin Bieber” by Joe Bielawa is licensed under (CC BY 2.0).
