12 Fads from the Past That Were Huge… For Like 5 Minutes

These short-live trends had everyone obsessed—until they didn't.

Daisy Montero
April 12, 2025
3 min read

12 Fads from the Past That Were Huge… For Like 5 Minutes — Marcelo Chagas on Pexels

Some fads arrived fast, blew up overnight, and disappeared before you could even get a chance to catch on. These were the trends that ruled school halls, pop culture, and store shelves—only vanished just as quickly as they came. Here are 12 quick-burning fads that had a moment before getting tossed aside.

1. Fidget Spinners Took Over Desks Everywhere

Árni Dagur on Wikimedia Commons

These tiny spinning toys were everyone—classrooms, offices, even gas stations. People swore they helped focus, but mostly, they just spun around until the fad got dizzy and disappeared.

2. Low-Rise Jeans Were the Height of Style

Richard Masoner on Wikimedia Commons

They sat barely on the hips and sparked a thousand outfit regrets. Celebs wore them, fans copied them, and eventually, everyone agreed: maybe higher waists were not so bad after all.

3. MiniDiscs Promised the Future of Music

Diego3336 on Wikimedia Commons

Sleek, shiny, and futuristic—but only for a moment. MiniDiscs tried to outdo CDs and cassettes but faded before most people figured out how to use them.

4. Everyone Wanted a Robot Pet

Aniol on Wikimedia Commons

Robotic dogs and cats barked, blinked, and followed commands. People lost interest quickly once the batteries died and the charm wore off.

5. Hair Wraps Were a Summer Must-Have

Thomas Quine on Wikimedia Commons

One colorful thread braid meant vacation mode was on. They stayed in until they tangled or fell out without warning.

6. Slap Bracelets Made a Loud Statement

Anntinomy on Wikimedia Commons

One snap around the wrist and you had instant flair. Teachers hated them, parents got tired of the noise, and they disappeared just as fast.

7. JNCO Jeans Were Basically Portable Tents

iluvrhinestones on Wikimedia Commons

The legs were so wide they covered entire shoes and half the floor. They made a bold statement that vanished once people realized how hard they were to walk in.

8. Those Rubber Cause Bracelets Were Everywhere

Abbys1 on Wikimedia Commons

Everyone wore one to support something or just collect colors. Once the hype cooled down, they quietly slipped off wrists for good.

9. Silly Putty Took Over Pockets

University of the Fraser Valley on Wikimedia Commons

You could stretch it, bounce it, or press it onto comics. It was fun until it dried up or ended up stuck in the carpet.

10. Everyone Wanted a Ringtone Phone

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Phones with custom ringtones felt like a must-have. People downloaded songs for calls and texts, then forgot about them once phones went silent again.

11. Pagers Were Peak Cool for a Year

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Before texting became easy, people showed off pagers like status symbols. As soon as cell phones caught up, the beeping stopped for good.

12. Tamagotchis Needed Constant Love

Nori Norisa on Wikimedia Commons

These digital pets needed feeding, cleaning, and lots of attention. People cared deeply for a week or two, then let them fade away once the beeping got old.