What is #2016challenge? Why Celebrities are Going Viral with Nostalgic Throwbacks

Get to know #2016challenge, the latest viral trend sparking a lively revival of nostalgia. See how Thai celebrities are unearthing old photos to compete in wow-factor, while uncovering why 2016 has surged back in popularity after a decade.

At the start of 2026, #2016challenge became a viral sensation, filling Facebook and Instagram feeds with warmth and excitement. This hashtag invites everyone to dig up photos from 10 years ago and share them, sparking a major nostalgia wave. Today, Thairath Online explores where this trend started and why it’s become unstoppable once again.

What exactly is #2016challenge and why did it go viral?

If you’ve been scrolling your smartphone and noticed friends or celebrities posting throwbacks from 2016 with clever captions, don’t be surprised. This is the #2016challenge trend, based on the idea that “2026 is the new 2016.”

This viral began as a 10-year anniversary of the events and lifestyle of 2016—a year many hail as the colorful peak of pop culture. Highlights included Snapchat’s heyday, the arrival of Pokémon GO, and Western-inspired fashion with perfect eyebrows and Choker necklaces. People worldwide started posting old photos to compare their “then vs. now” transformations.

The Queen Leads! When “Ploy Chermarn” dug up vintage photos that shook Instagram.

In Thailand, the trend quickly caught fire when entertainment icon “Mom Ploy” Ploy Chermarn unveiled a trove of legendary photos from 2016 nonstop, sparking a flood of comments from industry friends and fans alike.

The highlight came when mother of three “Chompoo Araya” commented teasingly, “The past was fierce,” creating a cute moment that boosted the trend’s popularity. Top stars like Pope Thanawat, Pae Panward, and Lydia Sarunrat also joined the nostalgia party, propelling the hashtag rapidly up the trending charts.

Beyond celebrities, well-known influencers and beauty bloggers helped fuel the viral wave of #2016challenge.

Why is 2016 the “year of the heart” everyone wants to revisit?

Social trend analysts say the return of #2016challenge in 2026 is no coincidence. It stems from a widespread nostalgia for a time when the internet felt more fun and authentic than it does today.

• The era of dog filters: Who can forget the iconic Snapchat dog filter that everyone had to have on their phone?
• Distinctive fashion: The era ofskinny jeans,and the effort put into full makeup looks.
• Shared memories: It was the year when stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé sparked hot topics that everyone talked about.

Check the 2016 hits: If you had all of these, you were a true teen of the time!

If you’re joining #2016challenge and wondering “What were we obsessed with that year?” here are five categories of memories that made 2016 the year many want to revisit the most.

Categories of “must-haves” and “must-dos” in 2016.

• Game Pokémon GO: The time when every street became a path for trainers hunting Pokémon, leading to power banks flying off the shelves!
• App & Snapchat Filter: You had to have smooth skin, flower crown, or the legendary “dog face” filter with a long tongue that became a legendary profile picture.
• Viral Dances like Dabbing: The cool arm-hiding move that took the world by storm, and the Mannequin Challenge where offices froze like statues.
• Choker necklaces & Adidas NMD: Black chokers were a must, color-striped sneakers were essential, and perfectly arched brows with Western-style makeup completed the look!
• Music PPAP: “I have a pen, I have an apple...” —the catchy tune that stuck in Thai ears, along with “Kon Mee Sané” that everyone could sing along to at bars.

Tips for digging up old photos to rock the challenge.

• Dig from “On This Day”: Use the memory feature on Facebook or Instagram to look back at posts from January to December 2016.
• Focus on “glamorous camera” shots: Photos with overly smooth faces or edited with Camera360 app attract tons of likes and comments.
• Tag friends: Don’t do it alone! Tag your friends in old photos to relive shared mischief—it’s guaranteed to boost engagement.