TikTok Meme Reset Trend Sparks Nostalgia and Debate

TikTok users are embracing a concept known as the "Great Meme Reset of 2026," a planned revival of memes from around 2016. This trend emerges as a reaction to what some perceive as a decline in meme quality in 2025, with a desire to return to a perceived "golden age" of internet culture [1]. The movement, which has itself become a meme, satirizes the rapid life cycle of online trends and the feeling that current content is "content pollution" [1].

Key takeaways

• A TikTok trend proposes a "Great Meme Reset" in 2026 to bring back memes from around 2016 [1].
• This movement is a reaction to perceived "content pollution" and a "meme drought" in 2025 [1].
• The trend satirizes the speed of meme culture and the desire for simpler, older content [1].
• Another TikTok trend, "canon events," uses concepts from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse to reflect on unavoidable life experiences [2].
• The "canon events" trend has garnered over 150 million views and is seen as a form of acceptance, though experts caution against applying it to future decisions [2].

The Great Meme Reset of 2026

The "Great Meme Reset of 2026" is a concept that has gained traction on TikTok, with users expressing a desire to move away from what they consider baffling or "forced" memes of the present [1]. The idea is to intentionally bring back popular memes from approximately 2016, such as Harambe, Ugandan Knuckles, Big Chungus, and Trollface, as the new year begins [1]. This proposed reset is partly inspired by a perceived lack of fresh, funny trends in 2025, leading some to lament that "the best is over" [1]. The concept was reportedly initiated by TikTok creator joebro909 in a comedy skit, satirizing the rapid evolution of internet culture [1].

This nostalgia-driven trend reflects a broader cultural moment characterized by reboots, sequels, and a mourning of outdated aesthetics [1]. Memes, like other art forms, are seen as reflections of their cultural landscape, and the "Great Meme Reset" is viewed by some as meme culture entering its own era of nostalgia [1]. While the idea of bringing back old memes is presented ironically, especially given TikTok's 2017 launch, it serves as a homage to past internet culture [1].

Canon Events and Acceptance on TikTok

Separately, TikTok has seen the rise of another trend, "canon events," inspired by the movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse [2]. This trend uses the film's concept of unavoidable, defining moments that shape individuals across parallel universes to comment on personal experiences [2]. Users share videos, often with regretful expressions and ominous music, describing embarrassing or difficult decisions they or others have made, framing them as "canon events" that cannot be interfered with [2]. The hashtag #canonevent has accumulated over 150 million views, with examples ranging from watching friends enter questionable relationships to accepting undesirable jobs [2].