Today, Explained Millennials are getting old
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Jan 30, 2026 
Emily Gould, novelist and New York Magazine writer, reflects on the so-called aging cliff at 44 and mindset around getting older. Deja Tolentino, internet culture reporter and newsletter author, explores 2016 nostalgia and TikTok-driven aesthetic revivals. They discuss why nostalgia is resurging, how it shapes generational identity, and what accelerated midlife moments feel like for millennials.
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Nostalgia As An Aging Signal
- Millennials' nostalgia for 2016 reflects a broader grappling with aging and life transitions.
- The trend signals generational anxiety about getting older and shifting cultural anchors.
Platforms Fuel 2016 Revival
- The 2016 revival built on TikTok and Instagram trends that recycled aesthetics and viral formats.
- Deja Tolentino links the resurgence to platform-driven cycles and retrospective cultural curation.
2016 As The Last Monoculture Moment
- 2016 marked the rise of influencer culture and algorithmic feeds that reshaped online life.
- That year feels like a last shared cultural moment before the fracturing of the late 2010s and 2020s.