Five years later, 2020 refuses to stay in the past. Habits born in quarantine, binge-watching and isolation are quietly resurfacing. From fashion to fandoms, the internet feels like it is replaying a year many thought they left behind.
Scrolling through social media today can feel strangely familiar. Baggy jeans, claw clips, slick-back buns and oversized hoodies are everywhere again. Back in 2020, it was about staying cozy while the world paused. These clothes hung around because they made sense when nothing did. Lately, people pick them on purpose, not just for ease. A throwback choice, almost nostalgic by design. Junior Kelsey Kountze said, “ it feels like we are replaying a moment when our lives didn’t demand so much.”
Much like before, music tied to lockdown days now pop up on TikTok and streaming apps. Once quiet background noise at home, indie melodies rise in clicks and streams. A track plays, then someone adds words about missing time. These sounds hit hard for learners stuck indoors years ago. Senior Natalie Hanson said, “ when I hear some of those songs, I’m instantly back in my room during quarantine. It’s not bad, but it reminds me of how alone everything felt.”
One of the most noticeable returns has been Dracotok, a TikTok subculture centered around Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy. Edits, dramatic soundtracks and ironic humor have once again taken over the platform. While some users laugh at its return, others fully embrace it. “ I never thought Dracotok would come back, but here it is again. It feels like a time capsule opening on my For You page,” said Senior Maia Katragadda.
The return of Dracotok highlights how fandom culture flourished during quarantine. Online, far from face-to-face interactions, groups bloomed into safe spots for fans to interact with users who share the same thoughts as them. Revisiting these fandoms now can feel comforting, but it also raises questions about what is pulling people again and again to relive old digital days? Looping through past trends might mean the internet is struggling to move forward creatively.
Some users find comfort in old 2020 styles returning, it brings back a sense of calm. Though that time carried worry, it came with fewer demands. Classes moved at a slower pace, pressure to fit in faded, while online trends provided distractions.
Fashion echoes from 2020 keep appearing, like old songs stuck on repeat. Music styles once common then now rise again. Humor that spread fast onlinef back then still lands the same way today. Fandom energy hasn’t faded, it shifted shape instead. Comfort comes from recognising what came before. Some find unease in how familiar everything feels. The digital world holds tight to nostalgic moments before they are gone. 2020 bent culture in ways people are only beginning to see.
