16 Products That Went Viral and Then Completely Disappeared
These are the viral products that skyrocketed to fame, only to crash and burn just as quickly—some due to bad luck, others due to bad design, and a few because the world simply moved on.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
These products burst onto the market, gaining worldwide prominence with hype, innovation, or sheer newness—before disappearing nearly as rapidly as they appeared. From tech gadgets like Google Glass to schoolyard fads such as fidget spinners, these once-popular fads flamed out because of bad design, market saturation, or changing consumer preferences. Whether they burned out too fast or simply didn’t live up to expectations, their pop and fade provide valuable lessons in ephemeral success.
1. Google Glass (2013-2015)
Image from The Verge
Google’s vision of smart glasses as a future of augmented reality and a hands-free world immediately failed because of privacy issues and an exorbitant price of $1,500. Outrage against the integrated cameras at restaurants and theaters resulted in issuing bans. By 2015, Google had dropped the project, though fragments had continued in enterprise models.
2. Hoverboards (2015-2016)
Image from Ubuy Philippines
Self-balancing scooters went crazy due to celebrity influence and viral clips. However, there were reports of battery explosions and fires, so they were mass-recalled and banned from airlines and public places. By 2017, the craze had largely died down, leaving behind cheap knockoffs.
3. Fidget Spinners (2017)
Image from Wikipedia
First introduced as an aid for concentration and stress, fidget spinners were a worldwide phenomenon, with children and adults collecting them. However, schools began prohibiting them, and the fad fizzled out almost as rapidly as it began. Within twelve months, they ended up in bargain bins.
4. Segway (2001-2020)
Image from Electroworld - Abenson.com
Hyped as the future of individual transportation, the Segway never really took off beyond mall cops and rental tourists. The product was costly and tricky to maneuver on sidewalks, curbing mass acceptance. Segway discontinued its two-wheeled transporter in 2020.
5. Crystal Pepsi (1992-1993, 2016 Re-release)
Image from Wikipedia
This transparent cola was rolled out with a big marketing campaign, but soon, it became apparent it tasted too close to regular Pepsi—without the charm. It was gone within a year, brought back only for nostalgia’s sake in 2016, and failed again. Pepsi eventually cut it for good.
6. The Yik Yak App (2013-2017, 2021-2022)
Image from Webwise
Yik Yak was an anonymous social networking site where one could send messages within a local area. It gained notoriety due to cyberbullying and threatening messages, which prompted schools and institutions of higher education to advocate for its prohibition. It was shut down in 2017, flared up briefly in 2021, and disappeared again.
7. Juicero (2016-2017)
Image from The Guardian
A $400 Wi-Fi-enabled juicer that needed pre-packaged juice packs, Juicero was mercilessly ridiculed after consumers discovered they could simply squeeze the packs by hand. The firm acquired $120 million in venture capital before folding in 2017. It’s a cautionary example of over-engineered products.
8. Flappy Bird (2013-2014)
Image from The Verge
This incredibly challenging cell phone game was an overnight sensation across the globe. The Vietnamese creator removed it from app stores in 2014, saying it was too addictive and stressful for him. Clones saturated the market, but the original craze never came back.
9. Nintendo Virtual Boy (1995-1996)
Image from Wikipedia
A premature 3D gaming console, the Virtual Boy suffered from a bad design, a limited game base, and headaches caused by the red-and-black screen. It didn’t sell well and was only around for one year. Now, it’s largely a collector’s item and a reminder of Nintendo’s infrequent mistakes.
10. Google Wave (2009-2010)
Image from Wikipedia
Purported to be the future of web collaboration, Google Wave was a combination of email, chat, and document sharing. It was too sophisticated for users to understand, and Google dropped it within a year. Several of its features were incorporated later into Google Docs and Slack.
11. Pogs (1990s)
Image from Ebay PH
These collectible cap-like toys made from milk caps were a playground craze during the early ’90s. The craze was over in no time, and they were another forgotten fad. They are now remembered only by nostalgic millennials.
12. Beanie Babies (1990s-early 2000s)
Image from eBay
These plush toys with “rare” tag mistakes were touted as investment items; some sold for thousands of dollars. The bubble popped when it dawned on people that Ty Inc. continued manufacturing them in huge numbers. They are now mostly worth a few dollars, if anything.
13. 3D TVs (2010-2016)
Image from Samsung
TV makers gambled big on 3D technology, promoting pricey 3D TVs with the allure of a movie theater experience in the home. However, the glasses were a hassle, there was limited content, and consumers simply didn’t care. By 2016, top brands dropped the concept altogether.
14. Pets.com (1998-2000)
Image from Failory
One of the most notorious flops of the dot-com era, Pets.com spent millions advertising (including during the Super Bowl) but didn’t make a profit. It sold pet products at a loss and bankrupted itself within two years. The company is now a cautionary tale about bad business planning.
15. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (2016-2017)
Image from Samsung Newsroom
What was intended to be Samsung’s top phone turned out to be a debacle when battery faults caused numerous explosions and fires. It was banned by airlines, and Samsung was compelled to have it recalled totally. The Note 7 was ultimately stopped, resulting in billions of losses.
16. Blackberry Phones (1999-2010s)
Image from Galleon.PH
Having once been the leading smartphone brand, BlackBerry could not keep up with touchscreen technology and app-based software. Apple and Android products soon dominated the market, and by the late 2010s, BlackBerry was all but gone. In 2022, the company officially closed its legacy phone services.