Most students at WS today were kids in 2016. Some were in elementary school and barely had phones. But even then, the year had a very specific vibe, and somehow, everyone remembers it.
2016 had a specific sound. It was Rae Sremmur’s “Black Beatles” playing during the Mannequin Challenge. It was Fetty Wap shouting “17-38” in Trap Queen. It was Drake’s “One Dance” and The Chainsmokers’ “Closer” playing at birthday parties, or in older siblings’ cars.
Even if students were young, the music was everywhere. It played in the background of YouTube videos. It was used at school, and showed up in early lip-sync apps and dance trends.
Some students still remember exactly when they first heard these hits.
“I first heard “Black Beatles” at Christmas in 2016, when my family did the Mannequin Challenge,” said senior Brenda Peredo.
Before TikTok, there was Musical.ly. It wasn’t as polished or algorithm-driven as social media now. It was simple: pick a sound, film a lip-sync, post it. Trends spread fast, but they felt smaller. More personal. A lot of current seniors and juniors remember scrolling through it.
“‘Juju on That Beat’ was always on Dubsmash and Musical.ly. It’s the same with Lean and Dab,” said Peredo.
Many students remember the songs and dances that defined the app.
“I first heard ‘SugarCrash!’ on Musical.ly, I can’t lie, it was a peak song,” said sophomore Cameron Familia-Rodriguez.
Beyond the songs themselves, Musical.ly felt different from TikTok in how people used it and interacted online.
“I used Musical.ly. It was different from Tiktok because there wasn’t as much negativity or criticism in the comments,” said senior Brianna Gonzales Sanchez.
Then there was Vine which was very similar to TikTok. Each video was six seconds long, and that was it. The humor was random and oddly timeless— Vine jokes lasted longer than most trends do now. They became phrases people still quote today, years later.
A lot of people compare humor from 2016 to humor today and notice clear differences in style and tone. Humor now can be funny, but it’s often ironic, absurd, and based on inside references that require context. In contrast, humor from 2016 tended to be more direct and easier to understand without much background knowledge.
“I don’t think [2016 humor] was funnier, but it was purer. Jokes now are really funny because they’re lowkey messed up and there’s more context to it, it’s more stupid,” said Peredo. “People were funny because they naturally had jokes and they were just having fun. It was enjoyable because you could tell they were having a good time.”
Fashion and beauty in 2016 had a look all its own. Matte nude lips from Kylie Lip Kits were everywhere, paired with thick brows and bold contouring that made every selfie pop. Hair was all about deep side parts, messy buns, and those effortless beach waves. On the streets, people wore chokers, ripped jeans, and galaxy print hoodies.
Now, a decade later, 2016 is coming back into style.
“2016 style feels more relevant than ever,” claimed a recent Vogue article. “There’s no denying the resurgence we’re seeing on the runways (and on the streets). Skinny jeans are back with a vengeance. The ankle boot, it turns out, never really left.”
This revival isn’t just copy-paste nostalgia, it’s taking the best of the past and tweaking it for today.
“I see a lot of the same aesthetics coming back, the picture quality, the edits, everything,” said senior Eliana Girmay. “It definitely feels nostalgic, like I’m reliving my childhood. They’re definitely remixing it, but the trends actually feel like they make an impact again, unlike some of the trends we have right now.”
For Andrea Rodriguez Valle, a senior, the 2016 revival feels especially personal.
“I was in third grade and eight years old in 2016,” said Valle. “I looked up to those highschoolers who embraced those trends. I thought fashion wouldn’t change and that it would stay the same when I grew up, not realizing how much trends evolve. It kind of feels like I’m reliving it.”
Looking back, 2016 wasn’t just a year, it was a vibe. Music, memes, and style all left a mark that’s still felt today. And now, a decade later, those trends aren’t just memories, they’re coming back, reshaped for 2026 and finding a whole new generation to enjoy.
