2016 was, in my view, one of the last years where the internet felt authentic and not completely and utterly taken over by corporations and NPC snowflakes. Looking at it from a wider (pop) cultural lens, 2016 was simply unparalleled, even for those normie interests that I didn't care about or pay attention to at all.
Almost every big artist released bangers that year, the rap game was absolutely wild, trends were actually entertaining. YouTube drama reached its pinnacle, while the gaming world offered experiences that weren't completely pozzed like they are today. And let's not forget the NBA season, which was a spectacle nothing short of mind-blowing for every normalfag.