As the new year began, a wave of nostalgia swept across social media, with users revisiting a time that feels both recent and strangely distant.

From everyday users to celebrities like Charlie Puth, Kylie Jenner, Alia Bhatt, and Priyanka Karki, more people are sharing old photos, Snapchat-filtered selfies, and memories from 2016, a year many now describe as simpler, softer, and more real.

But what does this sudden return to 2016 really reflect? Is it a sign of digital fatigue in an age of endless scrolling, constant updates, and algorithm-driven lives? Or is it a longing to return to a time when the internet felt more personal, less performative, and everyday life felt slower and more present?

Denila and Manila Dhakal, siblings from Itahari, remember 2016 as a time when Snapchat filters and meaningful photos defined social media. “Back then, we posted moments that felt special, not just to keep up with trends,” they say.

Manila believes the ‘2016 trend’ is growing because life now feels overwhelmingly fast, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. “Those pandemic years feel like a blur. In that short time, everything changed: how we study, work, communicate, and even relax. Digital life did not just grow; it took over,” she explains.

Looking back at 2016 feels like remembering a softer and slower time. When people share old photos now, they are not just following a trend; they are reconnecting with a version of life that felt more present and human. There is also nostalgia for who they once were and how life felt back then.

The sisters say they miss how natural everyday life used to be. “Family time, boredom, silence, and being alone with your thoughts. We did not have to schedule breaks from our phones to experience them,” they say. Today, everything feels instant, from information and entertainment to people and opinions. Although they acknowledge that this accessibility is useful, it has also become mentally overwhelming.

Denila also points out how short-form content has changed online behaviour. “Reels and short videos have taken over. People feel pressure to post every day, follow trends, and show a perfect life,” she says. She believes this has led to shorter attention spans, faster spread of misinformation, and growing pressure on creators to constantly produce content just to stay relevant.

Sambek Sahi from Mugu says he would love to go back to 2016, but not because it was a perfect year. “It’s because the internet felt human then, not optimised,” he says.

“Back then, the internet was not trying to sell us something every three seconds. You posted without a strategy, scrolled without anxiety, and went viral by accident, not by design.” He laughs while adding, “Now everything feels preplanned. Most people aren’t online just to enjoy or socialise; they want to go viral. Sometimes it feels funny, but also a bit sad.”

For him, the internet once felt like a shared playground. Today, he struggles to find the right word, but says it feels more like a competitive space shaped by algorithms and constant visibility. “We have to accept how society has grown and how voices matter now,” he says. “But, I still miss parts of 2016. I miss the randomness, the silence without guilt, and the feeling that not everything had to be productive or perfect.”

The impression of 2016 on many people is also through its music. ‘One Dance’ by Drake, ‘Cheap Thrills’ by Sia, ‘Closer’ by The Chainsmokers and Halsey, and ‘Work’ by Rihanna were some of the few hits of the year. For music, this was an eventful year, with people’s favourite One Direction going on a hiatus.

Like many others, Aarya Dhungana, an 18-year-old from Kapan, has had a chance to reminisce about her childhood through this trend.

“In 2016, I used to hang out with a school senior. She used to play Jennifer Lopez’s song ‘I Ain’t Your Mama’. We used to dance all day to this number. In school, we used to sing this together in class breaks. From then on, I started listening to and humming along to other English pop songs. Looking back at 2016, songs like these remind me how fun my days were when I was a kid.”

She shares that music was not as commercialised as it is today. “We used to actually love and share music, not pretend to vibe with what is trending,” Dhungana says.

She says, “I think the main reason why 2016 music just completely differs from today’s music is the quality and time spent on them. Fans do not want to hear the same repetitive music every month.”

Another music enthusiast, Aayukti Lamichhane from Pepsicola, offers a different take on the 2016 music scene. She believes that back then, artists were making impactful songs. They had their unique persona.

“I think artists were very invested in their craft at that time. Every chord, chorus and video was intentional. I remember 2016 through Bruno Mars’ upbeat music. Some of my favourites, ‘24K Magic’ and ‘That’s What I Like’, were released that year. These songs are still in my current playlist,” says Lamichhane.

Whether the trend reflects a tendency to romanticise the past through personal growth and distance, or a longing for a more carefree phase of life, it points to a wider exhaustion with heavily curated, algorithm-driven social media.

At its core, the return to 2016 reveals a desire for simpler, more human moments in an increasingly digital world.