tech
January 11, 2026
Grab your fidget spinners! Why gen Z are pining for 2016
As galling as it is to see young people refer to the items I wore 10 years ago as ‘vintage’, surely the real problem is that so many of them believe their best years are behind them
TL;DR
- A TikTok trend called 'Bring Back 2016' is popular among Gen Z.
- The trend involves recreating fashion, makeup, tech crazes, and challenges from 2016.
- The author suggests this trend reflects a belief among young people that their best years are behind them.
- The internet is perceived as more divisive and high-stakes than in 2016.
- The author proposes making the internet a kinder place as a way to combat this feeling.
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