2016 was the year when pop culture became something that everyone used daily. Trends did not just come from Hollywood anymore; they came from teenagers with smartphones, YouTube vloggers, Instagram influencers and even a pomeranian with better brand deals than most adults.
One of the most recognizable phrases of 2016 came from when 13-year-old Danielle Bregoli appeared on “Dr. Phil” and challenged the audience and Dr. Phil himself with the phrase “Cash me outside, how ‘bout that.”
Within days, the phrase became unavoidable. Teenagers quoted it daily, Musical.ly became overtaken with the clip and the phrase lived in Vine edits and Twitter posts. It represented viral culture moving faster than traditional media.
Before TikTok trends dominated social media, there was the Mannequin Challenge. The concept was simple, where everyone in a video froze completely still while a camera moved through the people. Usually, the song “Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd played along with the scene. Schools, and friend groups across Vine and
Musical.ly turned this trend into a full-blown competition of who could stay frozen in the craziest setups.
The dance moves of 2016 were the one universal language of the year. The whip and nae nae, popularized by Silentó, had taken off in 2015 and reached peak popularity in 2016, dominating school dances and even sports celebrations. Then came the dab, which spread everywhere from middle school talent shows to our favorite NFL player’s touchdown celebrations.
In the beauty culture, one name dominated 2016, and that was Kylie Jenner. Her Kylie Lip Kits sold out within minutes each time they launched, and the defining look of the era was matte lipstick and big eyebrows.
Teenagers everywhere were trying to recreate the Kylie lip, using her lip liners to overline their lips or even temporary DIY methods.
The lip kit craze was one of the earliest examples of influencer-driven commerce, where a celebrity could post about their new brand or a brand they often use, and everyone would follow.
YouTube in 2016 was entering its golden era, and one of the most beloved couples was David Dobrik and Liza Koshy. Their relationship was relatable and funny, and fans watched their vlogs not just for their pranks but also for the chaotic energy of their dynamic. Their humor shaped a generation of online comedy, with fast edits, absurdly timed jokes and constant fourth-wall breaks to the camera.
Before TikTok existed, there was Musical.ly. The app allowed users to lip-sync to songs and create short videos. It launched the careers of early social media celebrities and jump-started what we now know as content creators.
Baby Ariel, Loren Grey, Jacob Sartorius and Piper Rockelle were some of the biggest names on Music.ly. Musical.ly introduced something that would later define TikTok culture and algorithm-based fame. The app showed millions that they just needed a phone and a ten-second catchy, funny or relatable video to be famous.
Coachella in 2016 was also a major pop culture turning point. Set out in a desert in California, it attracted huge crowds of influencers and average music lovers alike, all trying to curate the perfect post. The headliners were big names of the year, like Calvin Harris, Sia, Ice Cube, A$AP Rocky, Ellie Goulding, Disclosure, Flume, Halsey and Guns N’ Roses. There was something for basically every music fan.
The most important thing to remember about Coachella 2016 was that it promoted these events to be more about the experience and how people shared it rather than just being there.
James Charles was a redefining figure of the beauty industry during 2016, as well. While he was not necessarily an active “vlogger,” he made tutorials and review videos with unique makeup looks that inspired hundreds of thousands of teenagers to be creative with makeup.
Looking back at it now, many of these trends seem nostalgic and some, a little ridiculous, but they represent something more for our future. Without 2016, there would be no TikTok influencers, no viral challenges dominating social media each week and no internet personalities that beat out movie stars’ popularity.
