Is 2016 Making A Comeback?

By Lola Brown

A wave of nostalgia has swept across social media, with many asking the same question: Is 2016 making a comeback?  

Old memes are coming back to life, Calvin Harris and DJ Snake hits are blasting through our phone speakers again, Triangl neon block bikinis and PINK sweat sets are trendy once again, and influencers are reposting throwback photos.  

For many Barry University students, the answer is yes, and the reasons go deeper than just fashion or music. Times recently have been very heavy, and people are reminiscing about a time filled with filters and peace signs.  

Laney Carroll, a freshman who is a nursing major, remembers the era as carefree. “Honestly, it just felt fun,” Carroll said.  

Even certain social media from that time, like Vine and Keek, felt lighthearted. 

“I think about popular music, Vine, and being online without overthinking it. Everything felt exciting and light,” Carroll said.

Calvin Harris released his single "My Way" on September 16, 2016.

Rihanna released her eighth studio album, ANTI, on January 28, 2016.

Drake performing during the Summer Sixteen Tour in Toronto, Canada in 2016.

 Photo Credits: Wikipedia

Back then, social media felt less competitive and performative. Posts weren’t carefully curated or built around chasing likes or followers. Students describe a time when sharing online felt spontaneous rather than strategic. 

Ava Lopes, a freshman political science major, describes the difference in timelines. 

“Being online was mostly about fun, posting something random without overthinking how it would be received,” Lopes said. 

Students believe today’s online environment feels heavier.  

“Social media is intense now, and there’s a lot going on in the world. 2016 feels like a time before everything got so serious,” Carroll said. 

Most of Barry’s undergraduate students were only 8-12 years old during the time, so they didn’t fully understand the things going on in the world at the time. 

Angelica Abate, a freshman nursing major, agrees, explaining that nostalgia doesn’t necessarily depend on age or understanding every event happening at the time. Instead, it’s tied to emotion. 

That emotional connection seems to explain why even younger students feel nostalgic for an era they experienced as children. The feeling represents fewer responsibilities, something many students say they miss as we become adults and live alone at school. 

The return of 2016 trend is also visible in fashion and music. Students say clothing styles once thought outdated are now popular again. PINK sweat sets, crop tops and Tumblr-inspired aesthetics have reappeared in stores and on campuses. 

Abate points out that music is another major comeback of the period. 

“Old songs from artists like Drake, Rihanna and Calvin Harris are trending again,” she said. “Fashion and social media aesthetics are also shifting back toward that messy, fun, less-polished look,” she said. 

Recent concerts help fuel this nostalgia. A Calvin Harris, John Summit, Xandra three peat, attended by many younger fans, demonstrated how music connects generations back to familiar memories. 

Lopes says these events feel like stepping into the past.  

“While being at these concerts, you are experiencing how they were in 2016, so it feels like you’re jumping back in time,” she said. “When everything feels unpredictable, looking back at the past gives people a sense of stability and safety.” 

Many students say they now participate in throwback trends themselves. Listening to old playlists, reposting memories, or dressing in revived styles helps them reconnect with those feelings. 

“I listen to music from that time a lot and wear clothes inspired by that era,” Carroll said. “Looking back at old photos is comforting.” 

So, is this revival simply another passing trend, or does it signal something deeper? 

All three students suggest the comeback reflects a desire for authenticity. Carroll believes people want experiences that are authentically light-hearted again. Abate agrees, saying the revival reconnects people with genuine joy. Lopes adds that while the trend may have started playfully, it now represents a bigger cultural shift. 

“I think the 2016 revival started as a trend, but it’s turned into something deeper, a real desire for authenticity,” she said.  

As Barry students scroll through Vine clips, relisten to old hits, or dig old outfits out of closets, it becomes clear that nostalgia isn’t just about the past. It’s about how people want to feel in the present. 

And for many students, that feeling looks a lot like 2016 carefree, authentic, and just a little less complicated.