“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died

Trend cycles are incredibly short nowadays. It seems like as soon as I start to understand one craze, another comes around to replace it the very next day. There must be a massive graveyard of forgotten fads buried deep in our memories.

So today, we’re going to dig up some of those old trends to remind you just how big they once were. From segways to fidget spinners, Redditors have recently been discussing all of the former “next big things” that are nowhere to be found today. Enjoy reading about all of these trends that had surprisingly short lifespans, and be sure to upvote the ones that you expected to become much more popular!

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died There was a trend years ago where people would collect trash from river and post it.

Of course a good trend like this did not last long.

MotanulScotishFold , Thirdman / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

125points

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Learissa 1 week ago

The only trend here that shouldn't have died...

88points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Being nice to each other at the start of the Pandemic (spring 2020).

Away-Value9398 , Tim Douglas / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

84points

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G A 1 week ago

People are worse than ever. I blame right wing politicians.

71points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died The whole 3D craze back in like 2010. Everybody thought it was the future after Avatar came out in theaters. EVERY movie tried to be 3D after that, there were 3D TVs, 3D phones, the Nintendo 3DS. And I think the craze disappeared in like year because it gave people headaches 😂.

KenzieeJayyy , Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

78points

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Leebo13 1 week ago

Not to mention that they were useless for people who wear glasses.

33points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Those that got a mustache tattoo on the side of your finger…….y’all ok?

Downtown_Bread_:
I was like 12 when this trend was going on, and thank god they don't let 12-year-olds get tattoos because that would have been me.

TypeNo2194 , ilovecoffeeandcarbs / reddit (not the actual photo) Report

77points

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Hmmm hmmmm 1 week ago

There's a very good reason 12 year olds can't have tattoos

37points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Remember in the early 2010s when there was a frozen yogurt place on every block? 2-3 years later and they all seemed to vanish and nobody wants froyo no mo.

bucksncowboys513 , Neil Bates / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

76points

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Kisa “Kizna” Kitsugi 1 week ago

Mean wasn't this Jamba juice in the mid 00. They were everywhere like Starbucks playing their super high sugar/cal smoothies

21points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Flash mobs.

Certain_Yam_110 , Gonzalo Malpartida / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

71points

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Earonn - 1 week ago

I miss the ones done by symphonic orchestras. There's a couple of great ones with Ravel's Bolero and the Ode To Joy.

56points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Segways were going to revolutionize transport.

ackmondual:
It was predicted that whole cities would be redesigned to accommodate them!

Independent-Bike8810 , Janusz Mitura / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

69points

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TheNewJenBrady 1 week ago

There is no one who could ever possibly look cool riding one of these.

22points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Planking.

AlessandroTheGr8:
So simple, silly, and harmless. I liked it.

No-Self-Edit , Edvin J. / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

67points

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Nathan Lewis 1 week ago

harmless, except for the people that died or were seriously injured doing it on balconies and moving cars

35points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Glasses without the lens… cringe.

spicyananas , Marcela Alessandra / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

67points

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Steve Sharpe 1 week ago (edited)

There was a bit of a trend in the late 90's for wearing glasses with just plain glass in them, to look a certain way or show a particular style. Met my (now) wife - who wears glasses all the time - around that time, and I bought some plain glass ones to make me look "intelligent" like she does and try to be the same sort of person she is/was cos I was head over heels and I thought she'd like me more that way. Thought it was working for a good three weeks, everything seemed perfect, then it comes round to my last night on leave before I go away for another six months. Walking her home from the 'local' pub we've been at all evening, we stop and she says to me "Steve, you're a great guy, and I really like you, as in 'like you' like you, but.." and my whole world feels like it's being torn apart, like I'm about to loose everything and there's no point anymore.. "but baby boy, you've got two cauliflower ears, a wonky nose, I can see that tiny bit of tattoo poking up over your collar even though you think I haven't noticed. Besides, you can barely even read your own name let alone write it, and that's fine, I'll help you - but baby, please take those stupid f*****g things off your face - you look ridiculous, and they're not fooling anyone!"... I've always said I'm as lucky as my wife is patient, and that's very true.

41points

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#10

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died S’well bottles.
Replaced with Stanley cups.
I wonder what overpriced portable liquid holder comes next?

ImaginaryPlace , zero promosi / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

64points

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Pink_Mushroom 1 week ago

Here is a thought. Just stick to a clear bottle from Walmart clearance section for 5 bucks. Ain't that hard

24points

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#11

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Pokémon Go.

I know some folks still play, but once upon a time I remember taking a walk in the park and people were just on their phones pointing them this way and that and walking in circles and then there’d be a group huddled together cause they were taking down a gym or something.

LuvYouMost , Pixabay / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

63points

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Amelia Jade 1 week ago

I miss the early days of Pokemon Go. We played heavily. I miss heading to the walking path behind our house to try to take the gym that is back there. We could see it from our house so we'd keep an eye on it and head back out if someone else took it.

26points

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#12

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Google Glass. It was supposed to be the future, but it disappeared faster than you could say "augmented reality".

goathill:
I do think this will get big decades from now when tech has caught up. It was simply released too early and under-delivered.

DazzlingZaria , Matt Brown / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

63points

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Steve Robert 1 week ago

The new Meta glasses will instantly identify, with all your personal information, if they look at you.. It's the end of any personal privacy, and people should be allowed to wear a mask that prevents this!

16points

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#13

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Pogs? Anyone? Am I too old?

I had a kicka*s beavis and butthead slammer.

Smuff23:

I killed pogs at my school as a kid. I had a shredded 8-ball slammer that would turn whole stacks over like 95% of the time and 95 might be a low guess. Too many kids started complaining and I ended up with too many pogs.
Granted it probably should have died as soon as they realized we were gambling the pogs.

DisasterIsMyMaster , kafka4prez / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

62points

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Kangaroo 1 week ago

I didn’t even realize pigs was a game until I grew up, I thought we were all just feverishly collecting tiny coloured cardboard bits 😂

15points

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#14

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Who remembers tamagotchi?

Referral-Split , Lauren Garza / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

58points

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G A 1 week ago

Back again now apparently

17points

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#15

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Selfie sticks were EVERYWHERE, now kinda embarrassing.

Unfair_Care2806 , Mizuno K / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

58points

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Multa Nocte 1 week ago

They were ALWAYS embarrassing.

95points

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#16

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died The fidget spinner craze was wild! One minute, everyone was spinning them like they were the coolest toy on the planet, and the next, they were collecting dust in drawers. It’s like they went from “Look at me, I’m stress-relieving!” to “Why do I have 12 of these?” faster than you can say “what was I thinking?”.

Both_t*ts0566 , David Bartus / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

57points

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G A 1 week ago

Weren't they for the autistic?

21points

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#17

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Gangnam style.

Rhearoze2k , Love WildManChris Report

57points

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Lady Lestrange 1 week ago

Gangnam style never disappeared. Play it, you'll still find people vibing to it.

54points

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#18

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Being a crypto-currency investor, for about three months everyone thought they were wolf of Wall Street, now they are all back to be stray dogs of skid row.

Glad-Introduction833 , Alesia Kozik / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

54points

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LuisSD stuff 1 week ago

There's still a few out there hiding in the background.

6points

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#19

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Hypercolor shirts.

beyondthunderdrone:

I remember making out with my girlfriend one time when she was wearing a Hypercolor shirt. She had to cool it off in the car AC to change the color back before going inside so her parents wouldn't notice she had been so hot! lol

m4tth4z4rd , 1morepic_really / reddit (not the actual photo) Report

52points

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LSD 1 week ago

I’d still buy one if I could 😅

24points

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#20

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Feather earrings in 2011.

SRB112:
I didn't notice that in 2011, but I remember when they were popular in the '70s.

Mysteriousmanatee714 , YekuStudio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

51points

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Josh Hart 1 week ago

Roach clips…. They were secret roach clips… you kids today!!

94points

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#21

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Arguments over whether the dress was blue and black or white and gold.

getridofwires , Veldron Report

51points

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Kangaroo 1 week ago

My brain was automatically colour-correcting the lighting in the photo so I could only see it as blue and black, I was so confused. Nothing I did made it look white and gold to me 😅

36points

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#22

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died People dressing up like creepy clowns and showing up in random places at night. I think all it took was for a few of them to get their a*ses tore up by the dogs of a few of their people targets, and it suddenly went away real quick.

BS_Analyzer , Yousuf Sarfaraz / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

50points

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G A 1 week ago

The socially maladjusted

18points

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#23

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died “So demure. So mindful.”

So stupid.

Steplgu , Edmond Dantès / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

48points

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⁠●⁠Fool●⁠⁠ 1 week ago

This post is very demure, very mindful, very cutesy

24points

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#24

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Grills (the teeth version)- for a hot second there, people were putting all sorts of bling on their teeth- kind of when that Nelly song “Grillz” came out in 2005. I was in dental hygiene school and I saw the tooth jewels and art all of the time. I’d say around 2008 it started to kind of die down and now I almost never see them.

** I did see that Simone Biles has tooth gems but her sister is in the dental field, so go figure!

jawjockey , The Earthy Jay / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

44points

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Sue User 1 week ago

They should make them non permanent. Like flashy retainers.

28points

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#25

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Slime. My daughter had a slime factory at home and was selling it at school. Every piece of furniture has slime remnants still embedded in it.

BilboreeBeegins , cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

43points

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Tucker Cahooter 1 week ago

Still very popular with my garden pond

31points

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#26

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Saying YOLO.

ThrowADogAScone , Los Muertos Crew / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

41points

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John Mosley 1 week ago

Usually said before doing something stupid that could end you. Wonder what happened to them all?

28points

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#27

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died NFTs.

WardenCommCousland:
I was so freaking glad when this went away. My stepsister's now ex-husband was hard into crypto and was trying to sell everyone, including my dad and stepmother, on NFTs. He was visiting clubs trying to sell near retirement-age Boomers on investing in them to 'diversify [their] portfolios' and talking about how they were going to be the biggest thing to ever hit finance.
And then they bottomed out. To my knowledge, my parents didn't invest in them, but my step-sister's finances were not in a great place for a while.

joe_chicago , pinguino k / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

40points

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Kangaroo 1 week ago

I’m so glad 95% of us knew they were exactly as stupid as they sounded and stayed away

63points

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#28

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died I forget what it was called but people would film a video where everyone in a group froze in place.

Ok_Cupcake_5226:
The mannequin challenge!

shananies , Ben Hoffman / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

40points

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Jean Jacket 1 week ago

I really liked the mannequin challenge. It was harmless. Some of them were meh but usually it was pretty cool

14points

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#29

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Vine.

cfu48 , Esther Vargas / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

37points

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Son of Philosoraptor 1 week ago

I miss Vine. People were forced to be really creative by the format, you got some great stuff

25points

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#30

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died The Cinnamon Challenge.

Additional_Apple5837 , Kaboompics / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

37points

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Beak Hookage 1 week ago

I got so sick of "challenges" in general very quickly.

41points

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#31

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died The Live Strong type rubber bracelets. I remember my mom driving me to multiple stores when I was in 3rd grade to find some. I soon discovered a rash from them.

Ben-Stanley , Denise P.S. / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

36points

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AG 1 week ago

I stay rockin a green cancer patient support bracelet. It's never coming off.. I miss you Pops.

37points

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#32

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Guys wearing two polo shirts and popping up both collars.

imakedankmemes:
This couldn’t die fast enough.

unhinged_behavior:
I remember a short-lived trend of polo shirts that had words printed in the collar so when you popped it up, the person behind you could read the word 'DOPE' or something. I worked at a PacSun at the time, and we sold SO MANY of those.

Chicagosox133 , fauxels / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

35points

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Grenelda Thurber 1 week ago

I remember people doing this in the 80's. Everything cycles in and out of fashion.

27points

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#33

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Cup stacking was big for a minute, the middle school even had cup stacking competitions after school.

atlantachicago , Rowan Peter / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

32points

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LuisSD stuff 1 week ago

Cute for its time.

10points

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#34

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died Hoverboards.

Justaredditor85 , Airam Dato-on / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

32points

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Emma S 1 week ago

I think the fact that they kept exploding and catching fire didn't help their sales.

43points

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#35

“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died The feathers or glitter strands you can attach to your hair. Use to be all the rage in high school.

Pkmnkat , Stacie / flickr (not the actual photo) Report

25points

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Natalie O! 1 week ago

Fairy hair is still a thing and it amazes me people would pay for it

9points

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Note: this post originally had 66 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.

What do you think ?

Kathy Dragonfly 1 week ago

Second Life! Everybody who had internet had an account, the company i worked for back then tried to open a branch in there and so many people were worried that life would fully shift to virtual

13points

Binky Melnik 1 day ago

Gosh; now THERE’S a memory! I’d been so sure it was gonna take off, and now here I am thinking “I can’t remember the last time I thought about it!”

0points

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Oooops! I haven't heard of half of these!

12points

Gavin Johnson 1 week ago

The turnover of trends has accelerated since the advent of social media / the internet. In the 60s-90s trends travelled slowly and had longevity, hula hoops, skateboards, BMX, yo-yos, clackers, deeley boppers, fluorescent socks, leg warmers, tie dye shirts, hand held Nintendo lcd games, you name it, the trends took time to move across countries and continents. Now my daughter is watching TikTok videos produced by her favourite k-pop band (Stray Kids) in real time and their ideas are global in seconds. Sadly this means they disappear just as quickly. Slow media will never return but it had its good points.

7points

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“Now Kinda Embarrassing”: 35 Trends That Blew Up As Quickly As They Died

Games

Adelaide Ross

Adelaide Ross

Gabija Saveiskyte

Gabija Saveiskyte

Word Search

Sudoku

Crossword

Word Flower

WordroW

Jigsaw

Picdoku

Killer Sudoku

Kriss Kross