Nowadays, our short-form video feeds are constantly screaming advice at us: how to live, who to sleep with, who to marry, how to parent, and how to practice "self-love." Honestly? Users are officially over it. Just 10 years ago, it was enough to post a low-quality pic with your friends directly to your feed, slap on five hashtags, and call it a day. Back then, social media felt relatively personalized, and the concept of doomscrolling hadn't even crossed our minds. Everyone was just sharing Snapchat dog filters and heading out to hunt Pikachu in Pokémon Go.

"After 2019 and the rise of short-form video, algorithms began leveraging controversy and conflict to grab attention and boost reach. As a result, people started spending more time in a digital world filled with emotionally charged content they didn't even choose," explains clinical psychologist Tracy King.

This shift has led to a massive spike in digital burnout, as noted in recent GQ features regarding the mental health toll of the modern "attention economy."

"Tech Overdose"

Yes, 2016 was only a decade ago. Но back then, you were still rocking wired headphones instead of AirPods (Apple didn't drop the first model until late 2016) and you weren't debating the existential threats of Artificial Intelligence. Today, we’re seeing a massive pivot back to tangled wires, "soul-soothing" real-world hobbies, vinyl records, and point-and-shoot film cameras. It’s no joke—people are actually buying "dumb phones" (feature phones) just to stay connected without being constantly online.

"There's a certain 'main character energy' in being unreachable," says trend forecaster Sean Monahan. "The wired headphone is the new 'do not disturb' sign."

Maybe It’s Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be?

The explosion of the "2016 aesthetic" has, as usual, divided the internet. While some users are busy filming "2016 vibe" TikToks, others are calling out the Mandela Effect: "I’m scrolling through these '2016 vibe' videos and all I see is 2012-2013 stuff. Why are people so confused? I feel like the creators of this content were still in elementary school 10 years ago." Others aren't exactly feeling the hype, remembering 2016 as "legendarily trash." "I don't remember a single good thing from that year. It was a nightmare. Like Jason Isbell sang on his 2017 album The Nashville Sound: 'Last year was a son of a bitch / For nearly everyone we know.'" The threads also point to the tragic "2016 curse" of celebrity deaths, including David Bowie, Prince, George George Michael, and Alan Rickman.

However, for those who aren't usually prone to nostalgia, get ready for a wave of media "comebacks." People worldwide are spending less time on social media (compared to the 2022 peak). We're seeing a surge in run clubs, book clubs, "coffee raves," and other offline activities that require you to actually put your smartphone in your pocket and stay present.

As The New York Times recently reported, the "Third Place"—somewhere that isn't work or home—is making a major comeback in American lifestyle culture, proving that maybe we really do just want to live like it's 2016 again.

Recommended products

Lacoste

Men’s Baseshot Pro Leather Sneakers

Shop

Alex Mill

Mill Striped Shirt In Cotton Poplin

Shop

J.Crew

Camden loafers with leather soles

Shop