Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud Why are we yearning for 2016? and Hilary Duff's comeback
Jan 21, 2026
Cultural critic Vinson Cunningham and internet culture reporter Madison Malone Kircher delve into the wave of nostalgia for 2016, exploring generational differences in this longing and how it reflects our current societal feelings. They discuss how Instagram’s algorithm shift has transformed social interactions. Meanwhile, freelance music journalist Emilie Hanskamp dissects Hilary Duff's comeback, highlighting how nostalgia informs her new music and connects with fans from her Disney days, while examining her appeal in today's pop landscape.
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2016 As A Cultural Time Capsule
- People posting 2016 photos signals collective yearning for a simpler pre-algorithm moment.
- Madison Malone Kircher and Vinson Cunningham link that nostalgia to cultural shifts and feelings of lost hope.
Algorithm Shift Rewired Social Feeds
- Instagram's 2016 switch to an algorithm shifted feeds from friends to curated influencer content.
- Madison says that change normalized dopamine-driven, spoon-fed content and paved the way to TikTok.
Early Social Media Felt Like An Agora
- Early social media felt like an open public agora where ordinary users could collide with culture.
- Vinson Cunningham argues that later platform consolidation closed that openness and individuality.