WOS: Is 2026 the new 2016?

Ailsa Collier, a Berkeley High School senior, reflected on the trends coming with the new year as a personal choice. “If you want 2026 to be your 2016, then live like that. But it doesn’t have to be,” Collier said. With more 2016 trends returning, she hopes that community bonds will be stronger. “I’m seeing a lot of hacky sacking happening, and so I’m hoping for a lot more human interaction,” Collier said.

Max Kermaninejad, a BHS senior, has observed the comeback of 2016 on social media a lot recently. With the new year creating opportunities for returning trends, Kermaninejad predicts that group activities from 2016 will also become more popular. “They’re bringing all the stuff back. So I’m thinking maybe water bottle flips, or the mannequin challenge. Maybe Musical.ly,” Kermaninejad said.

Luke Ashlock, a BHS senior, has seen the trend of comparing 2026 to 2016 decreasing in popularity since the start of the new year. “It lowkey was happening, I feel like the day before new years it was like, that was a trend, but now I haven't seen it,” Ashlock said. For the next year, he anticipates a comeback for Justin Bieber, as he was an influential figure in music during 2016.

Natalia Zarate, a BHS junior, sees reviving 2016 aesthetics as a potential trend for the new year. Still, that depends on if people choose to bring it back or not in the coming months. Regarding fashion, she expects to see a return for skinny jeans as the most popular style of denim. “Maybe skinny jeans will come back. I’ve been seeing less and less baggy pants,” Zarate said.