From fashion to food, social trends tend to prove fickle on our daily landscape, but like anything nostalgic, there is comfort in the path already taken, so as quickly as they change, they tend also to circle back. There might not be a more poetic example of this phenomenon than the proposed “Great Meme Reset of 2026.” You won’t need a DeLorean and a suitcase full of plutonium for this trip back in time. The internet, and its passionate content creators, will take care of it all for you. Just sit back and enjoy the nostalgia as it washes over your algorithm.
Here’s the breakdown:
Frustrated with a lack of creativity and general staleness to the “For You” feeds of today, content creators have proposed a rewind to a time when they felt most inspired and moved in the realm of social creation, a time before a younger generation of contributors cross-pollinated the pool of originality with witless Brainrot. That date…around 2016.
@joebro909 The get out revival is essential for us to exit the great tiktok drought of March #fyppppp #viral #meme #skit #memedrought ♬ original sound - Joey
It’s fairly ironic that the effort to spur originality requires a basic rehashing of old, but the theory is that this hard reset will cleanse our feeds and provide the opportunity to start anew. So fire up for a return of Big Chungus, pufferfish eating carrot sticks, and Advice Animals. The Great Meme Rest of 2026 launches on New Year’s Day.
