Social Media Trends That Died Out Quickly

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29 Jul 2024

Social media is a dynamic landscape, constantly evolving with new trends and challenges. While some trends capture the public's attention and have lasting impacts, others quickly fade into obscurity.

These ephemeral trends often reflect the fleeting nature of digital culture, where viral moments can be as short-lived as they are popular.

This article explores several social media trends that quickly fizzled out, examining why they caught on and what led to their rapid decline.

1. The Ice Bucket Challenge

In the summer of 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge became a viral sensation, encouraging participants to dump a bucket of ice water over their heads to raise awareness and funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While the challenge achieved significant success, raising millions for ALS research and boosting public awareness, its popularity was short-lived.

Rise and Popularity
The challenge spread rapidly across social media, with celebrities and public figures participating, further amplifying its reach. The simplicity of the challenge and the cause it supported made it widely accessible and appealing.

Decline
Despite its initial success, the Ice Bucket Challenge's momentum dwindled as the novelty wore off and the saturation of similar videos led to viewer fatigue. Additionally, the viral nature of the challenge overshadowed long-term engagement and sustained awareness for ALS.

Legacy
While the trend died out, its impact on fundraising and awareness for ALS had lasting effects, demonstrating the potential for social media to mobilize support for charitable causes.

2. Planking

Planking, a trend where individuals lie face down in unusual or challenging locations, gained widespread popularity around 2011. Participants would share photos of themselves planking on social media, often in increasingly daring spots.

Appeal
The appeal of planking lay in its simplicity and the humor derived from seeing people in odd places. The trend was easy to participate in and share, making it accessible to a broad audience.

Peak and Decline
Planking reached its peak quickly, with numerous media reports and a flood of images on social platforms. However, as the novelty wore off and incidents of injuries and fatalities occurred, the trend faced backlash and criticism.

Aftermath
The planking trend faded as quickly as it rose, replaced by new and equally fleeting challenges. Its brief existence highlighted the rapid life cycle of viral trends in the social media age.

3. Harlem Shake

In early 2013, the Harlem Shake, a short video meme featuring a group of people dancing to the song "Harlem Shake" by Baauer, became a viral phenomenon. The videos typically started with one person dancing alone, followed by a sudden cut to a chaotic group dance scene.

Format and Spread
The format's simplicity and the element of surprise made it easy to replicate and share. The trend quickly spread globally, with participants adding their unique twists.

Short-Lived Fame
Despite its massive popularity, the Harlem Shake trend was brief. The meme saturated social media, and its repetitive nature led to viewer fatigue. Furthermore, criticism arose about the trend's departure from the original Harlem Shake dance style.

Cultural Impact
Although short-lived, the Harlem Shake trend highlighted the global reach of memes and the speed at which they can spread and fade.

4. Cinnamon Challenge

The Cinnamon Challenge involved participants attempting to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon without water. The trend became popular around 2012, with videos of participants' reactions flooding YouTube and social media.

Viral Appeal
The challenge's appeal was largely due to its perceived difficulty and the exaggerated reactions it elicited. It was both a test of endurance and a source of humor for viewers.

Health Risks and Backlash
As the challenge grew, so did awareness of its health risks, including coughing, choking, and potential lung damage. Health professionals and organizations began to speak out against the challenge, leading to a decline in its popularity.

Lessons Learned
The Cinnamon Challenge served as an early example of how potentially harmful trends can spread online and the role of public health messaging in curbing such phenomena.

5. Mannequin Challenge

The Mannequin Challenge, which gained traction in late 2016, involved groups of people freezing in place like mannequins while a video was filmed, often set to the song "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd. The trend spread across social media platforms, with people from all walks of life participating.

Creative Expression
The challenge encouraged creativity, with participants often arranging themselves in humorous or elaborate poses. It became a global sensation, with celebrities and sports teams joining in.

Saturation and Decline
As with many viral trends, the Mannequin Challenge quickly reached a saturation point, where the influx of similar videos led to a decline in interest. The novelty wore off, and the trend faded as quickly as it had emerged.

Impact on Music
Interestingly, the challenge significantly boosted the popularity of "Black Beatles," propelling it to the top of the music charts, illustrating the symbiotic relationship between viral trends and popular culture.

7. Yanny vs. Laurel Debate

In May 2018, the internet was divided by a simple audio clip in which listeners heard either the word "Yanny" or "Laurel." The debate over what was being said became a viral sensation, akin to the "dress" debate of 2015 (blue and black vs. white and gold).

Psychological Fascination
The phenomenon fascinated people because it highlighted differences in auditory perception. Factors such as age, frequency sensitivity, and the device used to play the sound contributed to the differing perceptions.

Media and Meme Explosion
The debate quickly spread across social media, with memes, polls, and discussions proliferating. It became a light-hearted topic of conversation and media coverage.

Short-Lived Interest
Despite its rapid spread, the debate's novelty wore off quickly as the internet moved on to new topics. The Yanny vs. Laurel phenomenon illustrates how easily the internet can amplify trivial content into major discussions.

8. Bottle Cap Challenge

The Bottle Cap Challenge, which went viral in mid-2019, involved unscrewing a bottle cap with a spin kick. The challenge gained popularity after mixed martial artist Max Holloway posted a video of himself performing it.

Skill and Showmanship
The challenge's appeal lay in the skill and precision required to perform it successfully. It became a showcase of physical ability and creativity, with participants adding their unique spins.

Celebrity Endorsements
The challenge gained momentum with celebrities and athletes participating, further increasing its visibility and popularity.

Decline
As with many trends, the Bottle Cap Challenge eventually lost its novelty, with fewer people participating as interest waned.

9. FaceApp Age Challenge

In 2019, FaceApp's "Age Challenge," which involved using the app's filter to see how one might look when older, became a viral trend. Users shared photos of their aged selves across social media platforms.

Curiosity and Fun
The challenge's appeal was rooted in curiosity and the fun of imagining oneself decades older. The app's realistic aging filter fascinated users and sparked widespread participation.

Privacy Concerns
As the trend grew, concerns about data privacy and the app's access to personal photos emerged. Discussions about the implications of sharing such data led to a decline in the challenge's popularity.

Ephemeral Nature
The FaceApp Age Challenge highlighted the transient nature of viral trends, where initial excitement can quickly give way to more serious considerations.

10. Room Rater Phenomenon

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as virtual meetings became the norm, the Twitter account @ratemyskyperoom gained popularity by humorously rating the backgrounds of people's video calls, particularly those of public figures.

Pandemic Context
The phenomenon tapped into the shared experience of remote work and virtual meetings, offering a light-hearted distraction during challenging times.

Viral Appeal
The account's witty commentary and the focus on the aesthetics of home environments resonated with people globally, leading to widespread participation and engagement.

Fading Interest
As the novelty of virtual meetings wore off and people adapted to the new normal, interest in Room Rater waned, illustrating the fleeting nature of trends tied to specific contexts.

Conclusion

Social media trends can rise and fall with astonishing speed, reflecting the rapid pace at which digital culture evolves. While some trends make lasting impacts or return periodically, many are fleeting, capturing the public's attention only to fade quickly. The ephemeral nature of these trends highlights the importance of context, novelty, and the changing dynamics of online engagement. As social media continues to evolve, new trends will emerge, each with its potential to captivate, entertain, and influence audiences around the world.