Why the 80s? The new trend sweeping social media - and taking us back 40 years

A new trend on social media, powered by artificial intelligence, invites users to upload photos of themselves as they would have looked in the 1980s. The article examines the origins of the phenomenon, its nostalgic appeal, and the returning fashion of the decade, describing how users and celebrities alike are swept up in the AI wave.

A new trend is sweeping social media, inviting users to upload photos of themselves as they would have looked in the 1980s, with the help of artificial intelligence. The article, broadcast on the main edition of i24NEWS, describes how within days the game became an international trend, which even celebrities were swept up in. The AI recreates the user anew - hair, clothes, makeup and background, in an 80s version. The article explains the trend's popularity by noting that some 80s fashion, like high-waisted jeans, oversized fits, bold shoulders and strong colors, is already in many people's closets, and fashion always comes back. Additionally, nostalgia plays a central role: for those who were there, it's a return to childhood photos, and for those who weren't, it's an opportunity to create a past they never had. The article notes that in a few days there will probably be a new trend, but for now 2026 looks suspiciously like 1986.