I’d say:

2009-2010: Early 2010’s with some late 2000’s leftovers. Electropop is popular as well as Facebook with teens. Silly Bandz are popular.

2010-2011: Quintessential early 2010’s school year.

2011-2012: Early 2010’s culture with a tiny hint of mid 2010’s. Instagram is starting to get more popular. Call Me Maybe was popular.

2012-2013: Transitional period from early 2010’s to mid 2010’s. Vine is released, artists like Lorde and Ariana Grande reach the billboard charts. Gangnam Style is popular. Cup Song.

2013-2014: Mid 2010’s with some early 2010’s leftovers. Vine is at its peak. Artists like Iggy Azalea are popular.

2014-2015: Mid 2010’s. Although mid 2010’s culture was pretty much here, I’d probably consider this school year the very last one that had early 2010’s leftovers. It was the last time people used Skype and Kik.

2015-2016: Core 2010’s school year. Harambe, Musical.ly, Trap

2016-2017: Transitional school year. 2016 Election pretty much changed the vibe of this school year. Fidget Spinners are popular. Vine officially closes.

2017-2018: Quintessential late 2010’s school year. Fortnite is at its peak, Parkland, March For Our Lives. People have switched to Discord at this point.

2018-2019: Late 2010’s. Airpods have gotten noticeably more popular, Old Town Road. TikTok is popular.

I’d say:

2009-2010: Early 2010’s with some late 2000’s leftovers. Electropop is popular as well as Facebook with teens. Silly Bandz are popular.

2010-2011: Quintessential early 2010’s school year.

2011-2012: Early 2010’s culture with a tiny hint of mid 2010’s. Instagram is starting to get more popular. Call Me Maybe was popular.

2012-2013: Transitional period from early 2010’s to mid 2010’s. Vine is released, artists like Lorde and Ariana Grande reach the billboard charts. Gangnam Style is popular. Cup Song.

2013-2014: Mid 2010’s with some early 2010’s leftovers. Vine is at its peak. Artists like Iggy Azalea are popular.

2014-2015: Mid 2010’s. Although mid 2010’s culture was pretty much here, I’d probably consider this school year the very last one that had early 2010’s leftovers. It was the last time people used Skype and Kik.

2015-2016: Core 2010’s school year. Harambe, Musical.ly, Trap

2016-2017: Transitional school year. 2016 Election pretty much changed the vibe of this school year. Fidget Spinners are popular. Vine officially closes.

2017-2018: Quintessential late 2010’s school year. Fortnite is at its peak, Parkland, March For Our Lives. People have switched to Discord at this point.

2018-2019: Late 2010’s. Airpods have gotten noticeably more popular, Old Town Road. TikTok is popular.
I agree with all of your descriptions considering that I was in school for the entire decade.
My friends and I were talking about shows like iCarly, Victorious, Adventure Time and Regular Show way back in the early 2010s (around fourth and fifth grade). I also remember everyone in sixth grade listening and dancing to Gangnam Style. Artists like Adele, Drake, Bruno Mars were definitely hitting the big time in 2015. And hoverboards were a thing before they literally blew up. So much nostalgia.  :)

I still dislike most of the late 2010s (2018-19 in particular) on pretty much everything in pop culture.

I’d say:

2009-2010: Early 2010’s with some late 2000’s leftovers. Electropop is popular as well as Facebook with teens. Silly Bandz are popular.

2010-2011: Quintessential early 2010’s school year.

2011-2012: Early 2010’s culture with a tiny hint of mid 2010’s. Instagram is starting to get more popular. Call Me Maybe was popular.

2012-2013: Transitional period from early 2010’s to mid 2010’s. Vine is released, artists like Lorde and Ariana Grande reach the billboard charts. Gangnam Style is popular. Cup Song.

2013-2014: Mid 2010’s with some early 2010’s leftovers. Vine is at its peak. Artists like Iggy Azalea are popular.

2014-2015: Mid 2010’s. Although mid 2010’s culture was pretty much here, I’d probably consider this school year the very last one that had early 2010’s leftovers. It was the last time people used Skype and Kik.

2015-2016: Core 2010’s school year. Harambe, Musical.ly, Trap

2016-2017: Transitional school year. 2016 Election pretty much changed the vibe of this school year. Fidget Spinners are popular. Vine officially closes.

2017-2018: Quintessential late 2010’s school year. Fortnite is at its peak, Parkland, March For Our Lives. People have switched to Discord at this point.

2018-2019: Late 2010’s. Airpods have gotten noticeably more popular, Old Town Road. TikTok is popular.

You're pretty much spot on but I haven't heard of Lorde until the 2013-2014 year because I live in America. How would you describe the current school year, 2019-2020?

You're pretty much spot on but I haven't heard of Lorde until the 2013-2014 year because I live in America. How would you describe the current school year, 2019-2020?

The 2019-2020 school year relatively started, but so far, the culture's pretty much the same as the previous school year (2018-2019).

The 2019-2020 school year relatively started, but so far, the culture's pretty much the same as the previous school year (2018-2019).

I will say the song "Circles" by Post Malone sounds different from the stuff he made before. Also, TikTok is more popular right now than in the 2018-19 year.

I’d say:

2009-2010: Early 2010’s with some late 2000’s leftovers. Electropop is popular as well as Facebook with teens. Silly Bandz are popular.

2010-2011: Quintessential early 2010’s school year.

2011-2012: Early 2010’s culture with a tiny hint of mid 2010’s. Instagram is starting to get more popular. Call Me Maybe was popular.

2012-2013: Transitional period from early 2010’s to mid 2010’s. Vine is released, artists like Lorde and Ariana Grande reach the billboard charts. Gangnam Style is popular. Cup Song.

2013-2014: Mid 2010’s with some early 2010’s leftovers. Vine is at its peak. Artists like Iggy Azalea are popular.

2014-2015: Mid 2010’s. Although mid 2010’s culture was pretty much here, I’d probably consider this school year the very last one that had early 2010’s leftovers. It was the last time people used Skype and Kik.

2015-2016: Core 2010’s school year. Harambe, Musical.ly, Trap

2016-2017: Transitional school year. 2016 Election pretty much changed the vibe of this school year. Fidget Spinners are popular. Vine officially closes.

2017-2018: Quintessential late 2010’s school year. Fortnite is at its peak, Parkland, March For Our Lives. People have switched to Discord at this point.

2018-2019: Late 2010’s. Airpods have gotten noticeably more popular, Old Town Road. TikTok is popular.


I disagree with 2010-2011 as the quint essential early 10’s year. I feel like that’s 2012-2013 as there were no late 2000’s influences by that point. And in 2011-2012 Instagram wasn’t even a thing. In fact instagram was only used as a photo editing app and it was only exclusive to  the apple store. Android users weren’t able to  use it till mid 2012 or early 2013 when facebook bought the app, it was then when google play had access to the app. That’s when it started to become popular in 2012-2013. I’d also say it felt like early 2010’s till early 2014 (Culturally). Songs like “Selfie” and Katy Perry’s 2014 prism album sound more early 10’s. Ariana grade came out summer of 2013 with “the way”. I feel like by mid 2014 we were officially in the mid 10’s.

Katy Perry’s 2014 prism album


That actually came out 2013. I'm surprised anyone else here listened to it. I loved it ;D

I disagree with 2010-2011 as quint essential. And in 2011-2012 Instagram wasn’t even a thing. In fact instagram was only used as a photo editing app and it was only exclusive to  the apple store. Android users weren’t able to  use it till late 2012 or early 2013 when facebook bought the app. That’s when it started to become somewhat popular.  I’d also say it felt like early 2010’s till early 2014. Songs like “Selfie” and Katy Perry’s 2014 prism album sound more early 10’s.

Instagram came out in October 2010, so it technically was a thing in 2012. It wasn’t very popular at the time but it was slowly started to get noticed. In 2010-2011, nobody really heard of Instagram before. It was all Facebook that was popular, which is one reason why I consider 2010-2011 to be the quintessential early 2010’s school year.

Instagram rose to prominence in early 2012 I believe. But I didn’t get one until the start of the 2013-2014 school year.

I didn’t get an Instagram account until.. 2019.

Instagram came out in October 2010, so it technically was a thing in 2012. It wasn’t very popular at the time but it was slowly started to get noticed. In 2010-2011, nobody really heard of Instagram before. It was all Facebook that was popular, which is one reason why I consider 2010-2011 to be the quintessential early 2010’s school year.


You’re right it did come out in late 2010 but like I said previously the app was exclusive to apple technology only, meaning android users were not able to use the app. When I was in high school in 2011, only 5-10 million people had access to the app by September of that year. You have to remember that in 2011-2012 most teenagers did not own an iphone. Ipod touches were a thing but Facebook was the biggest social media platform. Instagram was in no way shape or form popular in 2011-2012. It was also a picture editing app at one point. Just like facebook. It came out in 2004 however it was only exclusive to a certain college for students only. It wasn’t till 2007 when it was made popular. The stats for instagram users also show that by may 2012 only 50 million users were using instagram compared to the 1 billion users on Facebook in October of 2012.

That actually came out 2013. I'm surprised anyone else here listened to it. I loved it ;D


Yep ! I loved it. I bought the album on itunes when I had my ipod touch after roar came out in 2013. Dark horse came out in early 2014 so I always associate 2013-2014 as like the last remnants of early 2010’s culture. I was a junior in high school at the time.

Instagram rose to prominence in early 2012 I believe. But I didn’t get one until the start of the 2013-2014 school year.


I have to disagree. Even stats show Instagram was only at 50 million users by the end of 2012 compared to Facebook which reached 1 billion. Late 2012 is when the app started to become a little more known because Facebook was advertising it after they bought it. By 2013 it was the newest thing a long with snapchat.

Here's my observation:

2009-2010: Early 2010s with a significant amount of late 2000s leftovers, especially with the fashion.  MySpace was still being used despite Facebook overtaking it.

2010-2011: Very Early 2010s with a tiny amount of late 2000s trends because there were still plenty of digital cameras. Smartphones began to rise.

2011-2012: Early 2010s with tiny mid 2010s influences. Hipsters, classic internet memes, and Minecraft were huge this year. Instagram started to rise.

2012-2013: Transitional period from early 2010s to mid 2010s. Leans more early 2010s because there were plenty of electropop hits and Vine became popular at the very end.

2013-2014: Mid 2010s with plenty amount of early 2010s leftovers such as Facebook being used in late 2013. Snapchat and Vine were blowing up.

2014-2015: Very Mid 2010s with a few early 2010s leftovers such as Skype. Undercuts on guys were blowing up like crazy. Dank memes began to rise.

2015-2016: The most 2010s school year. Obama was president while Trump was running for president. Dabbing was kinda annoying.

2016-2017: Transition between mid to late 2010s. Leans more late 2010s because Trap was inescapable this year. Donald Trump elected really changed the mood instantly.

2017-2018: Late 2010s. Core influences were decreasing heavily at this point. Soundcloud rap was big this year.

2018-2019: Very late 2010s. The core 2010s are over at this point. TikTok, Billie Eilish, Airpods, and Old Town Road were everywhere.

2019-2020: Not sure tbh

I disagree with 2010-2011 as the quint essential early 10’s year. I feel like that’s 2012-2013 as there were no late 2000’s influences by that point. And in 2011-2012 Instagram wasn’t even a thing. In fact instagram was only used as a photo editing app and it was only exclusive to  the apple store. Android users weren’t able to  use it till mid 2012 or early 2013 when facebook bought the app, it was then when google play had access to the app. That’s when it started to become popular in 2012-2013. I’d also say it felt like early 2010’s till early 2014 (Culturally). Songs like “Selfie” and Katy Perry’s 2014 prism album sound more early 10’s. Ariana grade came out summer of 2013 with “the way”. I feel like by mid 2014 we were officially in the mid 10’s.


Agreed 2010 and 2011 still felt kinda late 2000s ish to me anyways, I always like 2012-2013 was peak early 2010s. 2008-2011 felt like the transition

Agreed 2010 and 2011 still felt kinda late 2000s ish to me anyways, I always like 2012-2013 was peak early 2010s. 2008-2011 felt like the transition

2011 is not late 2000s. Most of the 2000s stuff in 2011 were irrelevant and passed their peak.

2011 is not late 2000s. Most of the 2000s stuff in 2011 were irrelevant and passed their peak.


I didn’t say it was the late 2000s I just said it was pretty late 2000s influenced, slider phones were still popular up until 2012

I didn’t say it was the late 2000s I just said it was pretty late 2000s influenced, slider phones were still popular up until 2012

Yeah, there were many non-smartphones at that time but the music of 2011 was already in early 2010s territory. Plus, Facebook was the default social media site.

2013 was definitely the year that smartphones dominated feature phones (or "dumb" phones) in sales. I even remember hashtags being talked about at that time and were used in almost every social media platform like Facebook and Twitter. You can even see on this chart how smartphones surpassed feature phones in that year.

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ic8epFp8ZSg/VQlj0apNZtI/AAAAAAABb7g/prFEV3nYMz8/s1600/statistic_id280372_sales-figures-of-generic-mobile-phones-and-smartphones-in-china-until-2015.png

2011 is not late 2000s. Most of the 2000s stuff in 2011 were irrelevant and passed their peak.


2000s stuff such as ?

2000s stuff such as ?

Snap music, emo pop punk(Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens are more post-hardcore), extra large t-shirts in hip-hop culture, George Bush as president, MySpace being relevant. Also, HD becoming more standard, smartphones increasing sales, and mobile app games becoming huge, Those things are big enough to separate 2011 from the 2000s.

I didn’t get an Instagram account until.. 2019.

I've had a Snapchat account since 2017, so  I'm also late to the party.  ;D

Peak cultural periods for the 2010s:

Peak Early 2010s: 2011-2012

Peak Mid 2010s: 2015-2016

Peak Late 2010s: 2018-2019

Peak of the ‘core’ 2010s: The Late 2015-Early 2017 timeframe

Peak cultural periods for the 2010s:

Peak Early 2010s: 2011-2012

Peak Mid 2010s: 2015-2016

Peak Late 2010s: 2018-2019

Peak of the ‘core’ 2010s: The Late 2015-Early 2017 timeframe

I'd like to call the "core" 2014-2016 period the "Dank Meme/Vine/Emerging Trap" era for teenagers like myself because those cultural aspects summed up the tastes of Millenials/Gen Zers this decade.

Dank memes gave way for heavily distorted, surreal memes in the late 2010s.

Vine set the footprint for a new wave of viral videos: short, rapid, weird, and comedic memes.

Trap was mainstream early on, but it definitely gained more momentum in the mid-2010s with songs like "Trap Queen" and "Panda" becoming viral hits on sites like YouTube and Vine.

Peak cultural periods for the 2010s:

Peak Early 2010s: 2011-2012

Peak Mid 2010s: 2015-2016

Peak Late 2010s: 2018-2019

Peak of the ‘core’ 2010s: The Late 2015-Early 2017 timeframe

2018-2019 is peak late 2010’s? I always thought it was 2017-2018, and I always thought peak early 2010’s was 2010-2011. I agree with the peak mid-2010’s.

Snap music, emo pop punk(Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens are more post-hardcore), extra large t-shirts in hip-hop culture, George Bush as president, MySpace being relevant. Also, HD becoming more standard, smartphones increasing sales, and mobile app games becoming huge, Those things are big enough to separate 2011 from the 2000s.


That feels like Mid 2000s stuff tbh, 2011 had stuff that it had in common with the Late 2000s more then it did with the Mid/Late 2010s

That feels like Mid 2000s stuff tbh, 2011 had stuff that it had in common with the Late 2000s more then it did with the Mid/Late 2010s


(early) 2008 wasn't that different from the mid-2000s, that's why it feels like "mid-2000s stuff" ;D

2011 wasn't too different from the mid-2010s either. We already had Game of Thrones and My Little Pony that year.

I agree with Slowpoke. 2011 has more in common with 2014 than 2008 due to many 2010s things established. Songs like Party Rock Anthem and We Found Love have an EDM sound very polished and bombastic that it's too 2010s to fit in 2008.  Facebook was the go-to social media, MySpace was a ghost town, and Tumblr was blowing up in popularity. This is the first year where hipster fashion and culture is getting attention. Smartphones were becoming more common in 2011. Video games like Minecraft got popular in 2011.

I agree with Slowpoke. 2011 has more in common with 2014 than 2008 due to many 2010s things established. Songs like Party Rock Anthem and We Found Love have an EDM sound very polished and bombastic that it's too 2010s to fit in 2008.  Facebook was the go-to social media, MySpace was a ghost town, and Tumblr was blowing up in popularity. This is the first year where hipster fashion and culture is getting attention. Smartphones were becoming more common in 2011. Video games like Minecraft got popular in 2011.


Honestly if you went back to 2011 you wouldn't be able to mistake it for anything other than a 2010s year. Smartphones were all around you, HDTVs were all around you (heck, people were buying 3DTVs), Obama is president, no one is shutting up about the latest episode of Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones.

Same with 2008 being a 2000s year. No smartphones, flip phones everywhere, most people still watch TV on SDTVs (although HDTV sales were booming at the time), PS2 and PS2 games still selling at a decent clip, Bush was still president, people talking about American Idol like it still mattered.

I'd like to call the "core" 2014-2016 period the "Dank Meme/Vine/Emerging Trap" era for teenagers like myself because those cultural aspects summed up the tastes of Millenials/Gen Zers this decade.

Dank memes gave way for heavily distorted, surreal memes in the late 2010s.

Vine set the footprint for a new wave of viral videos: short, rapid, weird, and comedic memes.

Trap was mainstream early on, but it definitely gained more momentum in the mid-2010s with songs like "Trap Queen" and "Panda" becoming viral hits on sites like YouTube and Vine.


Good points. Yeah you can probably include Late 2014 into the 'peak of the core' 2010s, and it would still look rather consistent. Late 2014 to Early 2017 whereabouts.


2018-2019 is peak late 2010’s? I always thought it was 2017-2018, and I always thought peak early 2010’s was 2010-2011. I agree with the peak mid-2010’s.


Yeah. 2017-2018 was arguably the first real Late 2010s school year, so you wouldn't really be able to call that 'peak' Late 2010s. I think 2018-2019 is simply the epitome of Late 2010s culture; Cardi B, Ariana, iPhone XS Max, Trap at all time peak, etc. etc.

I also still stand by 2011-2012 for much of the same reasons. 2010-2011 was purely early 2010s, and arguably the first school year to almost be devoid of most 2000s trends. However, 2011-2012 just screams early 2010s much more. Electropop, dubstep, Blackberrys, iPhone 4S, COD MW3, Occupy Wall Street, end of the Harry Potter trilogy, Twilight at all time peak, Drake's sophomore album Take Care, etc. etc.


TZ-qPPLKRzk


Have any of ya'll seen Teens React by the Fine Bros.? Their inaugural episode was in Late 2011, and it just screams early 2010s youth culture, with the episode being about Twilight no less.

Yeah. 2017-2018 was arguably the first real Late 2010s school year, so you wouldn't really be able to call that 'peak' Late 2010s. I think 2018-2019 is simply the epitome of Late 2010s culture; Cardi B, Ariana, iPhone XS Max, Trap at all time peak, etc. etc.

I don't know. I feel like 2016-17 was already culturally late 2010's since it was the school year Trump became president, fidget spinners became a trend and Vine officially closed.

I don't know. I feel like 2016-17 was already culturally late 2010's since it was the school year Trump became president, fidget spinners became a trend and Vine officially closed.


2016, as a whole, was much more of a transitional year. It was mostly mid 2010s, but Mid-Late 2016 was the start of the transition from Mid 2010s to Late 2010s. Starting with Brexit in June of 2016 and ending with Trump's inauguration in Jan. 2017.

This is how the 2010s school years look like:


Electropop Era, 2008-2013

2008-2009  |  End of Late 2000s (elements of early 10s taking some shape)

(2009 being the epicenter of the Late 2000s/Early 2010s transition)

2009-2010  |  Start of Early 2010s

2010-2011  |  Primarily Early 2010s

2011-2012  |  Peak Early 2010s

2012-2013  |  End of Early 2010s

(2013 being when elements of mid 10s culture began taking shape)



Core 2010s era, 2013-2018

2013-2014  |  Start of Mid 2010s

2014-2015  |  Primarily Mid 2010s

2015-2016  |  Peak Mid 2010s

2016-2017  |  End of Mid 2010s

(Late 2016/Early 2017 being when elements of Late 10s culture began taking shape)

2017-2018  |  Start of what was primarily Late 2010s


'Modern' transitional period/2nd Score of the 21st century era, 2018-present

2018-2019  |  Peak Late 2010s

2019-2020  |  Presumably still Late 2010s ???.


And that's really about it. By Jan. 2021, we should have a much clearer grasp on this. We may be in a whole new cultural era by that point, as the start of new Presidential terms, let alone new Presidents, signal cultural changes. It's the reason why in the 'End of <insert section of decade> category' for school years, all of them coincided around election years; 2008-2009 was the end of the Late 2000s, 2012-2013 was the end of the Early 2010s, and 2016-2017 was the end of the Mid 2010s.

Now it's not always the case; 98'-99' being the end of the late 90s, and 03'-04' as the end of the early 00s, all of those years weren't squarely pegged to Presidential elections, but I digress. There seems to suggest a pattern, so hopefully a year from now we should have a better understanding. As of now, this is the list that I think is applicable.

Have any of ya'll seen Teens React by the Fine Bros.? Their inaugural episode was in Late 2011, and it just screams early 2010s youth culture, with the episode being about Twilight no less.


I watched it, and holy crap you're right. I was surprised that there was more disdain towards Twilight from teenagers than I initially thought. Thank goodness.  ;D

2016, as a whole, was much more of a transitional year. It was mostly mid 2010s, but Mid-Late 2016 was the start of the transition from Mid 2010s to Late 2010s. Starting with Brexit in June of 2016 and ending with Trump's inauguration in Jan. 2017.

This is how the 2010s school years look like:


Electropop Era, 2008-2013

2008-2009  |  End of Late 2000s (elements of early 10s taking some shape)

(2009 being the epicenter of the Late 2000s/Early 2010s transition)

2009-2010  |  Start of Early 2010s

2010-2011  |  Primarily Early 2010s

2011-2012  |  Peak Early 2010s

2012-2013  |  End of Early 2010s

(2013 being when elements of mid 10s culture began taking shape)



Core 2010s era, 2013-2018

2013-2014  |  Start of Mid 2010s

2014-2015  |  Primarily Mid 2010s

2015-2016  |  Peak Mid 2010s

2016-2017  |  End of Mid 2010s

(Late 2016/Early 2017 being when elements of Late 10s culture began taking shape)

2017-2018  |  Start of what was primarily Late 2010s


'Modern' transitional period/2nd Score of the 21st century era, 2018-present

2018-2019  |  Peak Late 2010s

2019-2020  |  Presumably still Late 2010s ???.


And that's really about it. By Jan. 2021, we should have a much clearer grasp on this. We may be in a whole new cultural era by that point, as the start of new Presidential terms, let alone new Presidents, signal cultural changes. It's the reason why in the 'End of <insert section of decade> category' for school years, all of them coincided around election years; 2008-2009 was the end of the Late 2000s, 2012-2013 was the end of the Early 2010s, and 2016-2017 was the end of the Mid 2010s.

Now it's not always the case; 98'-99' being the end of the late 90s, and 03'-04' as the end of the early 00s, all of those years weren't squarely pegged to Presidential elections, but I digress. There seems to suggest a pattern, so hopefully a year from now we should have a better understanding. As of now, this is the list that I think is applicable.

IMO 2016 is a transitional year leaning heavily more mid-2010’s. Late 2016 was when the real transition began IMO. Early-mid 2017 was still kinda in that transitional phase but by like summer 2017 it leaned more late 2010’s. It wasn’t until like late 2017 when the cultural late 2010’s were officially in full effect.

Honestly, I feel like we’re going to have to wait and see which school year will be the quintessential cultural late 2010’s. Airpods and TikTok gained popularity during that school year and are still very popular today, but whether or not it is culturally late 2010’s really depends on if it last well into the 2020’s. If it doesn’t, then I’d agree 2018-19 would be the quintessential late 2010’s school year.

2017 is kinda like 2013 in a way. The early part of the year was still pretty much connected to the previous era, but by the late end of the year you could tell it was officially a new era.

10: Electro-Pop Revival aka "Turbo-Pop", Smartphones were on the rise 
11: Party Rock Anthem, Osama Bin Laden assassinated, The Rise of Instagram
12: Gangnam Style, Obama re-elected, EDM, Death of Whitney Houston
13: Obama re-elected, Blurred Lines, "Let It Go" 
14: Death of Robin Williams and Joan Rivers
15: Watch Me Whip, Watch Me Nae-Nae, Hotline Bling, The Rise of Snapchat
16: Trump became President,Dabbing Pokemon GO
17: Trap, Despacito, Flossing
18: Fortnite, Influencer,
19: Old Town Road, bad guy, Truth Hurts, The Rise of the TikTok app

IMO 2016 is a transitional year leaning heavily more mid-2010’s. Late 2016 was when the real transition began IMO. Early-mid 2017 was still kinda in that transitional phase but by like summer 2017 it leaned more late 2010’s. It wasn’t until like late 2017 when the cultural late 2010’s were officially in full effect.

Honestly, I feel like we’re going to have to wait and see which school year will be the quintessential cultural late 2010’s. Airpods and TikTok gained popularity during that school year and are still very popular today, but whether or not it is culturally late 2010’s really depends on if it last well into the 2020’s. If it doesn’t, then I’d agree 2018-19 would be the quintessential late 2010’s school year.

2017 is kinda like 2013 in a way. The early part of the year was still pretty much connected to the previous era, but by the late end of the year you could tell it was officially a new era.

I realized that we were in a new era after "Gucci Gang" was released, and emo/mumble rap started to peak around the 2017-18 school year, especially with artists like Playboi Carti, Kodak Black, Lil Pump, 6ix9ine, etc.

Imagine future music historians looking back at this era.  :o

I realized that we were in a new era after "Gucci Gang" was released, and emo/mumble rap started to peak around the 2017-18 school year, especially with artists like Playboi Carti, Kodak Black, Lil Pump, 6ix9ine, etc.

Imagine future music historians looking back at this era.  :o


That's what I mean. 2017-2018 was clearly the start of the Late 2010s. I agree with Rainbows, the transition began in Mid-Late 2016, and finished by Summer of 2017.

Fall 2017 had 'Gucci Gang' and artists like Kodak, Cardi B, Lil Pump, among others, reach into mainstream success. Trap was indisputably popular by this point, as was seen in Billboard records, and the disdain that you saw from hip-hop greats like Eminem and 50 Cent dissing the new wave in music. It was at this point that it was clear that we were entering a new generation for hip hop/rap music. EDM is also still big, but it definitely begins to implement some more trap, alternative, and minimalistic elements into it's sound, in comparison to the bombastic dancehall vibe of EDM from the Mid 2010s.

By Fall 2017, we were balls deep into what I have personally seen as a 'CW/WB Renaissance' of sorts, akin to the the WB Golden Age of the Late 90s/Early 00s, with shows like Riverdale in it's second season, and the debut of shows like Dynasty and Black Lightning, and continuing on with shows like Charmed and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in Late 2018.

Nintendo Switch was out for several moths by that point, and you had the release of 'mid-cycle' refresh Xbox One X, which revolutionized console gaming and the concept of releasing video game consoles. Also, Fortnite gets big in Late 2017/Early 2018, becoming a huge cultural phenomenon.

Also, the release of the iPhone X revolutionized bezel-less phone technology, making technology a lot more integrated physically and philosophically to other devices. This was one of those iPhone releases that truly felt like we were entering 'a new reality', something so detached from the original iPhone debuted 10 years prior. This which pushed more and more phone manufactures to do the same. Also, AirPods were becoming big by this point, truly revolutionizing how earbuds can be utilized in listening to music, not to mention it becoming a sort of 'status symbol' or sorts.

These are just a few examples of changes I saw become more prevalent during the 2017-2018 school year, hence why to me, it's the first true Late 2010s school year. However, because it was still undeniably within the core 2010s, being the tail-end of it, I can't necessarily say that it was 'peak' Late 2010s. That title goes more to 2018-2019.

That's what I mean. 2017-2018 was clearly the start of the Late 2010s. I agree with Rainbows, the transition began in Mid-Late 2016, and finished by Summer of 2017.

Fall 2017 had 'Gucci Gang' and artists like Kodak, Cardi B, Lil Pump, among others, reach into mainstream success. Trap was indisputably popular by this point, as was seen in Billboard records, and the disdain that you saw from hip-hop greats like Eminem and 50 Cent dissing the new wave in music. It was at this point that it was clear that we were entering a new generation for hip hop/rap music. EDM is also still big, but it definitely begins to implement some more trap, alternative, and minimalistic elements into it's sound, in comparison to the bombastic dancehall vibe of EDM from the Mid 2010s.

By Fall 2017, we were balls deep into what I have personally seen as a 'CW/WB Renaissance' of sorts, akin to the the WB Golden Age of the Late 90s/Early 00s, with shows like Riverdale in it's second season, and the debut of shows like Dynasty and Black Lightning, and continuing on with shows like Charmed and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in Late 2018.

Nintendo Switch was out for several moths by that point, and you had the release of 'mid-cycle' refresh Xbox One X, which revolutionized console gaming and the concept of releasing video game consoles. Also, Fortnite gets big in Late 2017/Early 2018, becoming a huge cultural phenomenon.

Also, the release of the iPhone X revolutionized bezel-less phone technology, making technology a lot more integrated physically and philosophically to other devices. This was one of those iPhone releases that truly felt like we were entering 'a new reality', something so detached from the original iPhone debuted 10 years prior. This which pushed more and more phone manufactures to do the same. Also, AirPods were becoming big by this point, truly revolutionizing how earbuds can be utilized in listening to music, not to mention it becoming a sort of 'status symbol' or sorts.

These are just a few examples of changes I saw become more prevalent during the 2017-2018 school year, hence why to me, it's the first true Late 2010s school year. However, because it was still undeniably within the core 2010s, being the tail-end of it, I can't necessarily say that it was 'peak' Late 2010s. That title goes more to 2018-2019.

I would agree that the 2018-19 school year was the peak. 2018 in general was a golden year of memes if you were on YouTube, Tiktok, Reddit, 4chan (or any social media platform).

Here's Pewdiepie's YT rewind to see what I mean (side note, he came back from his break yesterday  :)):
By_Cn5ixYLg

2016-2017 was a transitional period that began from summer 2016 to spring 2017, Donald Trump got elected and Trap started to dominate. I agree that the 2017-2018 school year is as late 2010s as it gets but it still within the core 2010s at the tail end. We’ll see in a year or two. Stuff from the 2018-2019 school year can continue into the early 2020s.

I don't know. I feel like 2016-17 was already culturally late 2010's since it was the school year Trump became president, fidget spinners became a trend and Vine officially closed.


Well from my stand point

2010- Early 2010s
2011- Early 2010s
2012- Early 2010s
2013- Early/Mid 2010s (cusp period)
2014- Mid 2010s
2015- Mid 2010s
2016- Mid/Late 2010s (cusp period)
2017- Late 2010s
2018- Late 2010s
2019- Late 2010s

The Mid 2010s were longer since that’s the core period of the 2010s

I think either 2018 or 2019 might be the "peak late 2010s year" in the future. It really depends on what 2020 (and 2021) are like, if they are just late 2010s extension then the case for 2019 gets stronger. At the moment though I'm biased for 2018 and its Fortnite, athleisure, Cardi B, "This is America", etc.

But I feel like "late 2010s fashion", such as more loose-fitting clothing, striped patterns, athleisure, curtain hair and the eBoy seemed to be more popular in 2019 than 2018. There were other trends too like TikTok, Billie Ellish, Lizzo, climate protests and many others. If these fade away by the end of 2020, then 2019 will sound like the most distinct year of the late 2010s. If however these trends continue and get more popular, then 2018 will look like the definitive year.

I think either 2018 or 2019 might be the "peak late 2010s year" in the future. It really depends on what 2020 (and 2021) are like, if they are just late 2010s extension then the case for 2019 gets stronger. At the moment though I'm biased for 2018 and its Fortnite, athleisure, Cardi B, "This is America", etc.

But I feel like "late 2010s fashion", such as more loose-fitting clothing, striped patterns, athleisure, curtain hair and the eBoy seemed to be more popular in 2019 than 2018. There were other trends too like TikTok, Billie Ellish, Lizzo, climate protests and many others. If these fade away by the end of 2020, then 2019 will sound like the most distinct year of the late 2010s. If however these trends continue and get more popular, then 2018 will look like the definitive year.


Personally, I'll always defend 2018 being the peak late 2010s year. Trap music and memes are Gen Z tastes in a nutshell, and they've all peaked that year.

Here's my observation:

2009-2010: Early 2010s with a significant amount of late 2000s leftovers, especially with the fashion.  MySpace was still being used despite Facebook overtaking it.

2010-2011: Very Early 2010s with a tiny amount of late 2000s trends because there were still plenty of digital cameras. Smartphones began to rise.

2011-2012: Early 2010s with tiny mid 2010s influences. Hipsters, classic internet memes, and Minecraft were huge this year. Instagram started to rise.

2012-2013: Transitional period from early 2010s to mid 2010s. Leans more early 2010s because there were plenty of electropop hits and Vine became popular at the very end.

2013-2014: Mid 2010s with plenty amount of early 2010s leftovers such as Facebook being used in late 2013. Snapchat and Vine were blowing up.

2014-2015: Very Mid 2010s with a few early 2010s leftovers such as Skype. Undercuts on guys were blowing up like crazy. Dank memes began to rise.

2015-2016: The most 2010s school year. Obama was president while Trump was running for president. Dabbing was kinda annoying.

2016-2017: Transition between mid to late 2010s. Leans more late 2010s because Trap was inescapable this year. Donald Trump elected really changed the mood instantly.

2017-2018: Late 2010s. Core influences were decreasing heavily at this point. Soundcloud rap was big this year.

2018-2019: Very late 2010s. The core 2010s are over at this point. TikTok, Billie Eilish, Airpods, and Old Town Road were everywhere.

2019-2020: Not sure tbh

Now we know what the 2019-20 year is like:

2019-20: Transitional because CORONAVIRUS

Now we know what the 2019-20 year is like:

2019-20: Transitional because CORONAVIRUS


Well, that and online classes through video chatting.  ;D

Now we know what the 2019-20 year is like:

2019-20: Transitional because CORONAVIRUS

Well, that and online classes through video chatting.  ;D
With Zoom, and no real face-to-face communication with school friends.

Well, that and online classes through video chatting.  ;D


I'm considering going back to school for my Masters in the Fall. School is certainly going to feel immensely different :(.

I first heard of Discord back in early 2017 but now it is waaayyy bigger than it was during the 2016-2017 school year.

I first heard of Discord back in early 2017 but now it is waaayyy bigger than it was during the 2016-2017 school year.

From my experience, 2015-2016 was the last "Skype" school year. It was the last school year where Skype was still the primary video chatting app. By early 2017, Discord gained fast popularity and Skype was dead.

From my experience, 2015-2016 was the last "Skype" school year. It was the last school year where Skype was still the primary video chatting app. By early 2017, Discord gained fast popularity and Skype was dead.

Yep, I remember in high school that some people still used Skype in 2015-2016 and Discord was not known by most people. Nowadays, everyone knows what Discord is.

I'm considering going back to school for my Masters in the Fall. School is certainly going to feel immensely different :(.


Well, good luck getting your Master's Degree. And don't worry, going back to normal does take a certain amount of time for people to adapt.

From my experience, 2015-2016 was the last "Skype" school year. It was the last school year where Skype was still the primary video chatting app. By early 2017, Discord gained fast popularity and Skype was dead.


I think most people mainly use Discord for just text and voice chatting. I haven't heard much about Discord video calls. But that's just my experience.