A recent cultural trend involves individuals, including celebrities, expressing nostalgia for the year 2016, often recalling it as a more carefree period. This sentiment contrasts with the actual events of the year, which included the Pulse nightclub massacre, significant celebrity deaths such as Prince and David Bowie, and a deepening of political divides.
Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Karlie Kloss, Lena Dunham, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling have shared old photos and memories online, contributing to the trend. Many describe 2016 as a simpler or happier time, leading some to revisit its aesthetics.
Jessica Maddox, an associate professor of media and cultural studies at the University of Georgia, noted that while the trend appears innocent, it involves some "revisionist history." Maddox explained that nostalgia is complex, as people often seek to replicate past feelings, which is rarely possible.
Sociologist Dustin Kidd, a pop culture expert at Temple University, suggested that referring to 2016 as the "last good year" may reflect a desire for comfort in the culture before American politics underwent a significant transformation. Key political events of 2016 included the US presidential election and the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom, which contributed to broader societal shifts.
Maddox also highlighted differences in media consumption during 2016, noting that social media felt more like a community, with less constant bombardment of negative news. This contributed to a perceived "monoculture" and a reduced tendency for "doomscrolling" compared to the present. The current online environment, however, has become more polarized, with even innocuous trends like 2016 nostalgia often drawing critical and divisive commentary.