• Looking back a decade halfway through the 2020s

Nostalgia is a real feeling. One day we look back and notice the shift in trends and our ways of life. Many of us have seen the 2016 nostalgia on social media, where people take a look back at the trends and times where life used to be different. 

“I feel like 2016 was a less complicated time,” Rajika Ranasinghe, 30, told The Daily Morning Brunch. “I was just starting out at university and my career and I remember how simple that time was.” 

Ranasinghe, along with many of our readers, expressed that they often look back at the past decade to relive the past. 

Trends that shook the decade 

While many of us pay attention to music, dance and culture, 2016 was full of cultural moments and trends that deserve a special place in our heart. 

“The one trend that really stood out to me in 2016 was the dab,” Ray Barlas, 36, said. “It was the perfect pose for people who were camera shy and a great way to celebrate.” 

Many people like Barlas look towards 2016 as a time where things were different, in a good way or otherwise. 

“One thing I really remember about 2016 is the makeup and beauty trends,” Kalani Edirisinghe, 40, said. “Matte makeup was in style and I also remember fashion trends like high rise jeans with crop tops that I still wear to this day.” 

Edirisinghe said that while she remains hopeful that fashion, beauty and cultural trends will remain healthy, memories from the past will always remain with her. 

“There is something so special about remembering the past,” she said. “It’s all about the trends that shape you and tell you a lot about society.” 

Society and social norms 

While the year 2016 is looked at with a sense of longing, our readers acknowledged that society and social norms have changed for the better or worse. 

“One positive change is the rise of remote work that became popular after the pandemic,” Ranasinghe said. “This change saved the time and cost of commuting for so many employees while allowing us to be more efficient.”

Ranasinghe also added that she feels like 2016 was a time with different priorities and privileges. Meanwhile, others noted a shift in the way interactions take place. 

“One shift that I notice in 2026 is the rise of dating app culture,” Edirisinghe said. “In 2016, you had to go out and meet people and interactions were generally authentic. But now I feel like everyone has become an option, which leads to the rise of situationships.” 

Edirisinghe said that while this has been a negative development, 2026 isn’t necessarily better or worse than 2016. 

“The world has moved on to critiquing a new generation,” she said. “From making fun of millennials and their avocado toast to criticising Gen Z trends, the world and society still displays a resistance to change.” 

Changing standards 

While many are resistant to changing, trends and standards are constantly evolving.

“Something that surprises me is the constant changes in beauty standards, especially standards surrounding women,” Nelum De Silva, 39, said. “In 2016 there was a rise in weight gainers and the pressure to look ‘slim thick’ yet now we see a rise in a trend towards being skinny.” 

De Silva said that the trends, whether it be in 2016 or 2026, have been harmful to society, especially the women in it. 

“Society is constantly telling women how they should look,dress and act,” De Silva said. “It has been a tradition for centuries and it continues till this date. The standards may change but the actions are still the same.” 

De Silva said that while this is a negative trend, 2016 also gave us a lot of positives to be thankful for. 

“One of the best things about 2016 is the music and the diversity we saw being represented on our screens,” she said. “We also were introduced to discussions on body positivity, which was especially refreshing after the restrictive standards of the early 2000s.”

Looking back 

 Many readers say that while they still look back at the past with fondness, it is also a reminder about how much they have grown and changed. 

“The past decade reminds us that we have much to be proud of and celebrate,” Ahmed Ismail,31, said. “We have achieved so much and I am confident that we will continue to keep on growing and evolving.” 

For many of us a look back at 2016 is not just a social media trend but a silent thank you to the people, places and pop culture trends that made us who we are in 2026.