Why people in 2026 are hung up on 2016
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Celebrities and the public are nostalgically revisiting 2016, recalling it as a simpler, more carefree time marked by cultural moments like Beyoncé's "Lemonade," the rise of Pokémon Go, and the first woman presidential campaign with Hillary Clinton.
- Despite the fond memories, experts caution that this nostalgia involves some revisionist history, as 2016 also included significant tragedies such as the Pulse nightclub massacre and the deaths of icons like Prince and David Bowie.
- Scholars note that 2016 felt less politically and socially divisive online, with a more unified internet culture and less constant exposure to negative news, contributing to the perception of it as "the last good year."
- The political upheavals of 2016
