A new viral wave has swept social media in early 2026, as users from everyday people to global stars post “#TBT” photos from 2016, playfully declaring “2026 is the new 2016.” The trend has exploded on Instagram, TikTok and even X (formerly Twitter), with hashtags like #2016, #BringBack2016, and #10YearChallenge dominating feeds. By mid-January, TikTok reported a 452% surge in searches for “2016,” and over 56 million TikTok videos had used a 2016-style filter. On Instagram the #2016 tag crossed millions of posts almost overnight. As media observers note, people seem to be “longing for a time that felt simpler, a time that felt really optimistic,” tapping into rose‑tinted nostalgia amid today’s uncertainties.
From Hollywood to homegrown stars, everyone is sharing decade‑old pics. Grammy-winner John Legend jumped in, posting 2016 throwbacks on Instagram alongside captions like “where was I in 2016?”. Other well-known names joining the fun include Meghan Markle, Charlie Puth, Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber.
Legend’s posts, for example, highlight early family moments, reflecting his long journey in fame and fatherhood. In each case, stars paired old selfies or red‑carpet shots with nostalgic captions (“I was living my best life” or “Heard it was 2016 again”) to emphasize how they’ve glowed up since. The social media buzz spans TikTok dance challenges with 2016 music to Instagram Reels showing SnapChat filters and scrunchies. Even audio clips of hits like Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” or Desiigner’s “Panda” are surging in use.
South African and African diaspora personalities have embraced the trend with personal flair. For instance, media personality Rachel Kolisi (South Africa) posted a series of photos from her 2016 wedding to rugby captain Siya Kolisi – but with a twist.
Her Instagram Stories showed the joyous ceremony and honeymoon, yet notably highlighted her toddler son instead of her now-ex husband. In her caption she vividly recounted 2016 as “what a year”,mentioning her son starting school, her job hunt after unemployment, painting her house, honeymoon in Vic Falls, and even noting “It was the last year with my grandpa here.”. This heartfelt throwback underscored Rachel’s journey from newlywed to single mom and career-minded woman, resonating with fans.
Other South African celebs also joined in. Minnie Dlamini, a TV host and actress, posted galleries of her younger self with a tongue-in-cheek caption: “2016 a year of shine, speed… and people I’ll never forget,” wryly skipping over the year she got engaged. Comedian-turned-presenter Dr Musa Mthombeni shared a 2016 video of himself by the sea (holding a baby shark) and joked, “2016 was a wild year. At some point I was Sharka Zulu… why was I so thin, Modimo?!”. DJ Kelvin Momo posted early-day promo shots with, “Let me take you back to 2016”. Even YouTuber Lasizwe Dambuza revisited the viral “Doom” skit era, exclaiming “You just had to be there! This video changed my life!”. In each case, these Black South African figures used the trend to highlight how far they’ve come; from scrappy upstarts to established media personalities – blending humor and pride. (News24 notes these throwbacks often showed “glamorous red carpet moments… reminding fans of their longevity in the industry.”.)
Beyond South Africa, African and African-descended influencers globally have taken part too. (Nigerian influencer and beauty entrepreneur Laura Ikeji and ex‑BBNaija housemate Mercy Atang hopped on the #2016challenge, for example.) Even US-based Black celebrities have referenced 2016; one post jokingly remarked that growing up together in 2016 “I’d be hosting our own BET Awards”. Overall, the vibe celebrates success and identity: participants often caption old photos by noting their decade-long journeys; career milestones, stylistic growth, or personal transformations thus turning the meme into a testament of “glow-ups.”
The visuals lean heavily on 2016’s signature style. Users are throwing it back with oversaturated, high-contrast selfies, playful Snapchat filters (think puppy ears and flower crowns), and old-school Instagram effects. Fashion trends from 2016 have reappeared: skinny jeans and chokers (ubiquitous in 2016) cropped up in many posts, along with the era’s bold makeup and “Kylie lip kits” look. One South African write-up quipped that in 2016 “you couldn’t take a selfie without a selfie stick”. Even music from that time is back on repeat: TikTok creators are lip‑syncing and dancing to hits like Desiigner’s “Panda,” Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles,” Major Lazer’s “Lean On,” and The Weeknd’s “Starboy”, cementing the aural throwback.
Platforms themselves have leaned into it: Snapchat reported a 613% spike in searches for “2016” lenses, and people are swapping in-app “throwback” filters that mimic the decade’s look. Some users even use nostalgic TikTok audio clips, for example a sped-up video montage of 2016 viral clips (from Mannequin Challenge freezes to Pokémon Go footage) that went viral on New Year’s Eve to caption the feeling of time-travel.
Fans and followers have flooded comment threads with their own memories and emojis, often adding their personal “glow-up” snapshots or reminiscing about where they were in 2016. Many captions plainly declare “2026 is the new 2016” to signal collective nostalgia. Media analysts note this isn’t random: psychologists say millennials and older Gen Z who were teens in 2016 are feeling anxious about the future and using nostalgia as comfort. The year 2016 was an era before pandemic lockdowns and algorithm‑driven feeds, when social media felt more carefree. Vogue and ABC note that users are reacting less to 2016’s political drama and more to its culture; the music, fashion, and filters they enjoyed.
Many participants explicitly describe 2016 as a personal or cultural “blueprint” for optimism. NDTV observes that captions often voice this hope: “people see 2016 as a blueprint for everything [they] hope to manifest in 2026”. Leah Faye Cooper (former Vogue editor) told ABC that the trend reflects people craving “a time that felt simpler, a time that felt really optimistic”. In pop culture terms, 2016 had blockbusters and hits (Beyoncé’s Lemonade, Hamilton on stage, Netflix’s Stranger Things debut) that many recall fondly. By sharing these throwbacks, celebrities and fans alike craft a narrative of identity and achievement: “look how far I’ve come.” For example, Rachel Kolisi’s story‑style caption about her wedding and first year as mom frames 2016 as a stepping stone to today’s success. Minnie Dlamini’s playful skip-over of her engagement then, contrasted with her present-day growth, similarly highlights evolution. Even the fashion shift is noted: commentators on NDTV point out that 2016’s high hairdos and eyeliner have given way to 2026’s more minimalist styles, signaling how personal aesthetics have matured.
Overall, the #2016challenge has become a digital time-capsule exercise; a way for influencers (and everyone else) to connect past and present selves. It’s subtler than a mere meme; it’s a collective “glow-up celebration.” As one participant quipped, “You may know me for now, but in 2016 I was just getting started.” The flood of throwback selfies and hashtags embodies pride in personal journeys, style evolution (from chokers to sleek silhouettes), and a dash of retro fun. In doing so, it underscores a broader cultural mood: a yearning to revisit a less complicated era, even if just for laughs and likes. Whether it’s South African stars highlighting their decade‑long rise or global celebrities reviving Snapchat filters, the consensus is clear, 2016’s spirit lives on.