Put a finger down if you, by any chance, lovingly miss the year of the Lord 2020.
We bet a lot of us won’t put a single finger (or maybe yes and leave our middle finger up) because c’mon, 2020 was a dump fire. It was one of the darkest days we’ve ever experienced in our modern lifetime, thanks to *checks notes* pananalasa ng pandemyang COVID-19.
From being forced to stay in the four corners of our homes for a few months and physically distancing ourselves from our loved ones, to feeling all types of negative emotions, it’s quite difficult to evoke nostalgia over what has happened to mankind in 2020.
However, now that we’re marking three years since the global lockdown happened, some people are feeling kind of “nostalgic over the pandemic” as they reminisce about their life during the year that was. Yeah, we kid you not. People who miss 2020 exist and they’re making a bizarre internet trend about it: introducing the 2020core.
As first mentioned and reported by The Tab, 2020core is a “rare aesthetic” where people look back on their life during the lockdown. The trend first gained traction in 2022, but it has recently resurfaced on social media, particularly on the video-sharing platform, TikTok.
Now, you may be wondering: what on Earth are they missing about 2020?
Well, that’s exactly what we’re curious about, but upon checking people’s entries, it seems like they’re reminiscing all the trends that went viral at the time of lockdown, such as busting out some dance moves for TikTok viral dances at the time, vibing to the songs released in that year, playing video games all day long, and making dalgona coffee, among others.
To see what the 2020core looks like, below are the clips we’ve rounded up about the memories people are missing at the time of the pandemic.
https://www.tiktok.com/@_kagura2oo4_/video/7194366674655644954?_t=8aTIHR1GrFS&_r=1
@shivaniaxox nostalgic post ☹️ #quarantine2020 #whippedcoffee #nostalgic #vsco #quarantineroutine #netflix #obx #coffee #lifestyle #dayinmylife #grw #routine #vlog
@vscosophy life was so simple back then 🥹 | ib: @✰ 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐀༄🌈🐼👛 #pov #march2020 #2020 #preppy #vsco #aesthetic #bling #routine #grwm #2020vibes #quarantine #fy #fyp #trendy #viral
♬ vmeshbeats adderall x boo x ig freestyle slowed – sound remixes
@joloboypubgm
@anubhav_sathi072369
https://www.tiktok.com/@seancraig/video/7184515613119892741?_r=1&_t=8aTIOcLerzO
https://www.tiktok.com/@sazan_grgx9/video/7192601344966954266?_r=1&_t=8aTIQDIpRsQ
@nostalg1ac0re i miss it sm #lockdown #lockdown2020 #nostalgia #nostalgic #nostalgiacore #dreamcore #weirdcore #kidcore #childhood #childhoodmemories #backrooms #liminalspaces #feverdream #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #fypシ #viral
@2020vibes2019vibes Memories #2020 #fyp #2020roblox #lockdown #covid
@halleysc0met77 best vibes fr #2020 #era #kidcore🍄🐸🌈⚡️ #indie2020aesthetic #rainbow #kidcore2020 #monster #🍄✨
https://www.tiktok.com/@pet_tester_/video/7204278698453863686?_r=1&_t=8aTIjzJSn1G
@amyharahap it’s like i have to make this coffee every year in March since the start of pandemic 2020 #PrivateLabelTest #dalgonacoffee #pandemiclife #pandemicnostalgia #march2020vsmarch2023 #supalonelychallenge
Unlike any other trend that has emerged on the internet, this may be probably the most absurd we’ve ever seen that had gone viral.
Obviously, 2020 wasn’t filled with rainbows, unicorns, and sunshine. For many people, it has been a lost year as everyone (okay, maybe not everyone–the rich were definitely exempted) suffered from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sure, the first week of lockdown was fun for kids, or for people with stable jobs, because we didn’t have to worry about any school work or accomplish tasks given by our bosses. At the time, it felt like a vacation, not until the lockdown started to extend for many months and when we fully grasped the harsh realities of the pandemic.
Many lives and jobs were lost. The world’s economy was forced to close down. The number of COVID-19 cases continued to rise. It has posed social unrest and unprecedented stress. All the events that had transpired left us feeling hopeless and uncertain about what the future has in store for us—let alone if there’s a future waiting for us.
But, of course, to be fair, maybe the reason why they’re missing 2020 was we were all forced to change for the better.
For some people, 2020 gave them a rare opportunity to be still and reflect on their lives. Others were able to reconnect with their loved ones and enjoyed the novelty of remote work, while some focused on taking care of themselves. Then there were the times that 2020 felt like we were all united as we engaged in political activism and fought against brutality, discrimination, and oppression, among others.
But then again, the only people who are most likely to feel nostalgic and miss 2020 are the privileged ones.
Nevertheless, 2020 was a shit show, and as we enter the third anniversary since lockdown happened (it feels weird saying anniversary, tho!), my only hope is that we won’t go through those dark times again.
I know it’s inevitable, but hey, a girl can dream!
Happy Lockdown Anniversary, I guess?
Other POP! stories that you might like (madami kaming pandemic stories why not):
In retrospect: My life in lockdown
How the pandemic distorted our sense of time, according to a psychologist
The future of Philippine live theater, post-pandemic
4 things we realized about preserving relationships during a pandemic
The ‘pandemic movie,’ which stars Heart Evangelista, hits theaters this weekend
Twitter is now unsafe from trolling under Elon Musk, insiders reveal
Avril Lavigne and Tyga seemingly confirm relationship in new photos
