17 Cultural Fads That Were Over in a Week
Here's a playful look back at short-lived crazes that burned bright but fizzled fast.
- Chris Graciano
- 5 min read
Some trends explode onto the scene. They grab everyone’s attention for a moment before disappearing just as quickly. These fleeting fads often left behind funny memories, useless purchases, and a little embarrassment. Here are 17 cultural crazes that had their moment of glory and then vanished almost overnight.
1. Silly Bandz
Scot Scoop on Wikimedia Commons
These stretchy, colorful bracelets shaped like animals and objects became an instant playground currency, with kids trading and stacking them by the dozens. Within days, the excitement wore off, and parents were left picking up stray bands from every corner of the house.
2. Fidget Spinners
Sebastian Voortman on Pexels
Marketed as tools for focus and anxiety relief, they quickly turned into toys that distracted classrooms and workplaces everywhere. The craze spun out of control for a moment, then vanished once everyone realized the novelty didn’t last longer than a few twirls.
3. Harlem Shake Videos
Siono89 on Wikimedia Commons
For one unforgettable week, every group of coworkers, friends, and students filmed their own bizarre version of the “Harlem Shake.” The internet was flooded with dancing chaos — until the joke got old, and everyone moved on just as fast as they joined in.
4. Pet Rocks
Pet Rock Net on Wikimedia Commons
Marketed as the ultimate low-maintenance companion, this polished pebble in a box became the gag gift of the 1970s. The absurdity made people laugh briefly, but when the humor wore off, they were left with, quite literally, a rock sitting on their shelf.
5. Ice Bucket Challenge
Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia Commons
It began as a genuine act to raise awareness for ALS, turning social media into a sea of drenched participants and viral videos. But once the shock value faded and timelines dried up, the trend disappeared, leaving behind a trail of soaked shirts and short-lived activism.
6. Tamagotchis
COSMOH LOVE on Unsplash
These tiny virtual pets had kids feeding, cleaning, and caring for them nonstop, even during class or dinner. Yet once the batteries died or the “pet” perished for the tenth time, most owners abandoned them without a second thought.
7. Flash Mobs
DMatUFWiki on Wikimedia Commons
What started as surprising, spontaneous bursts of synchronized dance in public quickly became predictable and overdone. The first few performances felt fresh and exciting, but soon people rolled their eyes at yet another “unexpected” crowd performance.
8. Beanie Babies as Investments
Dominic Sagar on Flickr
Collectors rushed to buy every stuffed animal they could find, convinced they’d fund their future college tuition with the profits. When the market crashed and the bubble popped, basements across America filled with bins of plush toys that nobody wanted.
9. Pokemon Go Summer
PickPik
For a single summer, entire cities were filled with people staring at their phones, chasing virtual creatures through parks and malls. It brought everyone together for a brief, magical season, then lost its spark as the novelty faded and the heat of July turned to fall.
10. Pogs
Emre Turkan on Unsplash
These small, colorful cardboard discs turned playgrounds into miniature battlegrounds where kids competed for victory and bragging rights. However, like many fads before it, the fun wore off quickly once schools banned them and newer toys took their place.
11. Mood Rings
Moodman001 on Wikimedia Commons
They promised to reveal your emotions through color changes, dazzling wearers with their shifting hues. People soon realized they only reacted to body heat, not feelings, and the illusion of emotional insight vanished just as fast as the trend appeared.
12. Planking
MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
For one strange week, social media was full of people lying stiff as boards in the most random locations imaginable, from park benches to bridges. It was funny and absurd, until repetition set in and the joke quite literally fell flat.
13. Gangnam Style Dance
Wikimedia Commons
The goofy horse-riding dance from Psy’s hit song took over parties, weddings, and YouTube feeds worldwide. It was impossible to escape for a while, but the global sensation burned out once everyone realized it had no staying power beyond the novelty.
14. Rubik’s Cube Keychains
Jadson Thomas on Pexels
These tiny versions of the famous puzzle hung from backpacks everywhere, making students feel like puzzle masters on the go. Unfortunately, they were too small to actually solve, and most ended up jammed, broken, or tossed aside in a matter of days.
15. Livestrong Bracelets
Sherool on Wikimedia Commons
The bright yellow wristbands became a powerful symbol of unity and hope during their peak. However, after endless knockoffs and controversies, the accessory lost its meaning, fading from fashion as quickly as it rose to prominence.
16. TikTok Dance Challenges
Ron Lach on Pexels
Every week brought a new viral dance that everyone tried to master, record, and share. Within days, the trend was old news; they were replaced by yet another set of moves, leaving countless half-learned routines behind.
17. Feather Hair Extensions
aliciamarieUF on Flickr
Stylists couldn’t keep them in stock when celebrities debuted colorful feathers woven into their hair. Yet after the initial thrill, the fad lost its charm, and what once felt edgy quickly started to look outdated and awkward.