By definition, a fad often disappears from the social scene as quickly as it appears. This is exactly what happened to the Ice Bucket Challenge and Temple Run. As an homage to these recent but passé trends, here is a list of 10 fads you probably forgot existed.
Fidget Spinners
Fidget Spinners are the latest craze to take the internet by storm. Celebrities use them. Sports teams have capitalized on them. And, unfortunately, the popular toy has sent at least one person to the hospital. Injuries aside, people adore this little spinning plastic toy, because it’s cheap, compact and downright fun to play with.
Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga was all the rage in 2012. Players match colorful candies in groups of three or more to earn points and prizes. The free puzzle game reached peak popularity in 2013, as Apple’s most downloaded app for that year, C Net reported. The successful game inspired spin-offs: Candy Crush Soda and Candy Crush Jelly.
Pokemon Go
Another phone app that took off with younger generations, Pokemon GO is an augmented reality game that allows users to catch Pokemon in real-world locations. Several incidents — such as players becoming seriously injured and a lawsuit over trespassing — prompted Niantic to place disclaimers on the game.
Tamagotchi
Going back a few years, Tamagotchi, the handheld pet simulation game, was wildly popular in Japan and the U.S. Since its 1996 inception, the game has expanded into video games, as well as a smartphone app.
Slap Bracelets
Anyone who grew up in the ’90s will recognize this delightful accessory. You slap it across your wrist to get it to wrap around as a bracelet — hence the name “slap bracelet.” Unlike its cousin, the choker, the slap bracelet sadly has not made a 21st century comeback.
Heelys
The Heely is the ultimate solution for people who want to have their cake and eat it, too. It’s both a shoe AND a roller skate! In 1999, creator Roger Adams cut open a pair of sneakers and inserted a wheel into the sole of the shoe. The product was popular among pre-teens in the early and mid-2000s.
Ice Bucket Challenge
This was the most popular internet trend of the summer of 2014. Following the format of previous trends — like the cinnamon challenge and the “try not to laugh” phenomenon — the Ice Bucket Challenge involves getting a bucket of icy-cold water poured over your head. The challenge raised awareness and money for ALS, which led to the discovery of a new gene.
Temple Run
This phone app, where users navigate a running avatar through various obstacles, came out in 2011. A sequel to the game was released in early 2013. Temple Run 1 and 2 were so popular, in fact, that by 2014, they were collectively downloaded more than 1 billion times.
Harlem Shake
This meme from 2012 is not to be confused with the hip-hop dance move of the same name. This version of the Harlem Shake involves a person dancing on camera — either alone or in front of an indifferent audience — to Baauer’s song, “Harlem Shake.” After the screen briefly goes black, the music plays louder, and the previously unenthused audience erupts into dance.
Covfefe
No explanation needed here.
