Overview of Today Explained — "Millennials are getting old"
This Vox episode (hosted by Deja Tolentino and Estet Herndon) links two related internet-cultural phenomena: the wave of nostalgia for 2016 across social platforms and the psychological/biological realities of aging as early millennials approach midlife. It features reporting from Deja Tolentino on the 2016 revival online and a conversation with Emily Gould (New York Magazine) about aging, the “44 cliff” research, and how millennials are grappling with getting older.
Key takeaways
- 2016 nostalgia is a major internet trend in 2026, driven largely by TikTok and Gen Z re-romanticizing mid-2010s culture (music, aesthetics, influencers).
- The “2016 vibe” is associated with the rise of influencer culture, maximalist makeup, Snapchat-era filters, and an early-algorithm social internet that felt more like a shared monoculture.
- Nostalgia for 2016 partly reflects dissatisfaction with the present: political/economic turmoil of the 2020s, fragmentation of shared culture, and a loss of forward-looking optimism.
- A Stanford-linked study (reported widely) highlights biological “aging cliffs” around ages 44 and 60—media coverage made age 44 feel like a milestone for becoming “middle-aged.”
- Emily Gould argues the healthiest approach to aging is psychological: acceptance, open-mindedness, resilience, gratitude for the social/emotional benefits of aging, rather than treating aging as a problem to be fixed by anti-aging products.
Topics discussed
- What “2016 vibes” look and sound like: Chainsmokers, Drake’s “One Dance,” Kylie-era pop culture, makeup gurus, mannequin challenge, pink wall aesthetic.
- Metrics showing the resurgence: TikTok searches for “2016” surged (reported 452%), Spotify 2016 playlists up ~71% year-over-year (compared to 2024).
- Cultural reasons for nostalgia: last shared monoculture, perceived optimism/low stakes, rise of influencer monetization and algorithmic feeds.
- Risks of persistent nostalgia: inability to imagine better futures; cultural stagnation and escapism.
- The biology and psychology of aging: personal stories of abrupt changes at 44, the anti‑aging industry, and mindset strategies to age well.
- How millennials’ financial instability and life-course differences (housing, career paths) may shape their experience of aging.
Notable data & quotes
- Data cited: TikTok searches for “2016” +452%; Spotify 2016 playlist listens +71% (year-over-year vs 2024).
- Memorable quotes:
- “It was one of the last years in which we engaged in a monoculture together.”
- “Staying young is in some part a matter of appreciating the opportunity to get old.” — Emily Gould (summarizing a mindset shift toward gratitude and acceptance)
- “It gets better.” — recurring reassurance about aging and life trajectory.
Recommendations / Practical takeaways
- If nostalgia feels consuming, try balancing it with curiosity for new cultural currents and small creative experiments to imagine forward-looking alternatives.
- For approaching midlife:
- Prioritize mindset: openness to change, willingness to be wrong, gratitude for hard-earned perspective.
- Build social connections across ages—older people who accept aging often model the most sustainable mindsets.
- Consider incremental, realistic health habits rather than expensive “anti-aging” quick fixes.
- Financial planning: recognize economic differences facing many millennials (housing and stability) and take pragmatic steps where possible (budgeting, retirement planning).
- For creators and brands: nostalgia can be a useful cultural touchstone but overreliance risks creative stagnation.
Who appears / production notes
- Reporting and interviews: Deja Tolentino (internet culture reporter, newsletter Yap Year) and Emily Gould (novelist and New York Magazine feature writer).
- Recommended reading: Gould’s New York Magazine piece “Falling Off the Aging Cliff at 44” (referenced in the episode).
- Episode production: produced by Danielle Hewitt; edited by Amina Alsadi; fact-checking by Andrea Lopez Cruzado; engineers Bridger Dunnigan and David Tattashore.