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Why reliving 2016 is the new social media trend

By Jordan-Marie Smith,
Patrick Jarenwattananon
Published January 16, 2026 at 4:13 PM EST

Social media users, in 2026, are reliving 2016 nostalgia online. We answer the questions swirling around why and what this means.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Jordan-Marie Smith
Jordan-Marie Smith is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.
Patrick Jarenwattananon
[Copyright 2024 NPR]
See stories by Patrick Jarenwattananon
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