The world seemed to shine with more color back in 2016. Maybe it’s because we hadn’t yet been dulled down by the stress of an upcoming midterm, untouched by the crushing weight of student loan debt — or maybe it’s just because every photo was taken through the lens of the vibrant Rio de Janeiro filter.
Whatever the reason, 10 years later, we’re desperate to soak up the nostalgia of the good ol’ days of Snapchat dog filter selfies on rose gold iPhones. Perhaps, if we try hard enough, we can recapture the magic of this iconic era and channel it into our lives a decade later.
So, throw your hair into a messy bun and take our personality quiz to find what energy you should channel to make every day in 2026 just as vlog-worthy as 2016!
1. OMG! You wake up in the morning to see your calendar is dated 2016. What are you wearing today?
A. Iconic black choker with a bold red lip
B. Ripped skinny jeans with UGG Classic Boots
C. Bomber jacket paired with leggings
D. Cat ears from Claire’s and a tank top from Justice
E. Faded One Direction T-shirt
2. You stop by Starbies. What’s your order?
A. James Charles’ “Pinkity Drinkity”
B. Just tea
C. Plain black coffee
D. Hot chocolate
E. Unicorn Frappuccino with extra whipped cream
3. Which Vine are you and your friends explaining to your math teacher?
A. “Eyebrows on fleek. Dafuq?”
B. “I could have dropped my croissant!”
C. “What’s 9 plus 10?” “21”
D. “I’ve never went to ovoo javer”
E. “Road work ahead? Uh, yeah, I sure hope it does!”
4. Your friend tells you some shocking news. What is it?
A. Harambe, the gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, was killed.
B. Kim Kardashian just leaked a phone call between Taylor Swift and Kanye West, and now #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty is trending on Twitter.
C. Killer clowns are chasing people down.
D. Pokémon Go is taking over the world, and people are dying while playing.
E. They made a musical about the Founding Father on the $10 bill.
5. You go to a house party. What artist is playing?
A. Drake
B. Justin Bieber
C. Halsey
D. Taylor Swift
E. Alessia Cara
6. Your friend pulls you onto the dance floor. What emote are you hitting?
A. Milly Rock
B. Juju on That Beat
C. Dab
D. Whip and Nae Nae
E. Hit the Quan
7. You get home exhausted and want to wind down before you go to bed. Which new TV show are you putting on to fall asleep?
A. “The Crown”
B. “Fleabag”
C. “Westworld”
D. “The Good Place”
E. “Stranger Things”
Scoring guidelines
Each letter answer is correlated with a number. Add up your results to find your score and see what you need to bring into 2026!
A=1
B=2
C=3
D=4
E=5
Results
7-12 = Beauty guru
Hi, sister! To be completely frank, when we said 2016 was colorful, it’s mostly because of the trends that took over the beauty world. A matte base routine with eyeshadow matching every shade of the rainbow, glitter acrylic nails that blinded anyone in a 5-mile radius, and bright blue skinny jeans — in the words of Kylie Jenner, that was Coachella 2016. It truly was the vibe at the time. This year, experiment with colorful palettes, get as bold as the thick brows and false lash combo, and bring back the fun of 2016 beauty trends.
13-18 = YouTube apology videos
Have you ever made a “severe and continuous lapse in [your] judgement”? Okay, we know what you might be thinking — why should you bring the overwhelming guilt of an apology into the new year? More important than that guilt, however, is what apologies can also represent: turning over a new leaf. Did you do something last year that eats at you today? Are you still regretting how badly things ended with that person? It might be time to reach out and make things right. Leave your regrets in 2025 and let’s approach 2026 with a fresh slate!
19-24 = Parkour and internet challenges
Does anyone remember when their YouTube feeds were taken over by people attempting insane parkour speedruns or by a new challenge video every day? Cinnamon challenge? Mannequin challenge? Well, we sure do. This was an insane time filled with taking risks, a bravery people are severely lacking today. Although you maybe shouldn’t eat a spoonful of cinnamon, you should definitely step out of your comfort zone. Try something new; you’re gonna kill it this year!
25-30 = Slime galore
Let’s be real, we all wanted to be a slime shop owner in fourth grade. If you were the ultimate slime maker, it’s never too late to bring that energy back this year. It’s 2026; take the time to revisit old hobbies. Whether it’s actually making slime, following those iconic Draw So Cute tutorials, or actually sticking with learning how to play the ukulele — 2026 is the year to rewind the clock. Don’t be afraid to take a break from the everyday pressures of adult life; the child within you deserves it!
31-35 = The banger hits
If Zara Larsson was able to bring back the golden era of 2016 pop with the “Lush Life” dance, it’s time for you to do the same. Pop in your AirPods, make that ultimate throwback playlist, and crank up the volume. Channel Ariana Grande’s high ponytail and Fifth Harmony’s uncoordinated dance moves. Every song from this era inspires an insanely contagious carefree and confident energy. If you find yourself feeling down, drop your indie sadcore Spotify playlist and pull out your old iPod to immerse yourself in nostalgia. No one can be sad listening to 2016’s greatest hits, and that unfiltered joy is what we need in 2026.
