Is 2026 the new 2016? – The Boar

“2 026 is the new 2016.” This phrase has been circulating on social media since the beginning of the year as millions of TikTok and Instagram users take a nostalgic look back at 2016. As Zara Larsson’s ‘Lush Life’ returns to the charts, the Snapchat dog filter makes a comeback, and hundreds of viral memes resurface, the impact of 2016 on pop culture is undeniable. However, was 2016 truly as flawless as social media considers it to be? Or are we merely looking back on the year through rose-tinted lenses? Especially since the 2016 ‘aesthetic’ is literally draped in a rosy, pink-toned filter. Since the new year, millions have taken to social media to share their own throwback photos from this beloved year 2016 is often romanticised for its natural and authentic approach to social media. With the launch of Snapchat Memories (a tool used to save photos and videos in a private collection) a decade ago, it is clear that social media was dedicated to capturing the present moment rather than constructing performative photos and videos. Posts were dominated by the pink-hued, Rio de Janeiro filter, which has recently made a comeback on TikTok. Instagram feeds mainly consisted of
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