Fads

As members of Generation Y, we are all familiar with fads that have come and gone throughout the last 15 years or so. From Pokemon cards, to yoyos. From tamagatchis to silly bands, we've all had the pleasure of possessing one or more of these items. No one really knows how fads arise or why they die out, but we do know that when   they are in style, not having one makes you somewhat of an outsider. Fads have changed over the years, and as technology expanded and attention spans decreased, the fads evolved. No longer were kids interested in things like pet rocks and easy bake ovens. They were interested in small electronics and magical monsters that reached well beyond the realm of reality. The manner in which these messages are accepted by the public is consistent with the hypodermic needle model. The passive audience, which in this case consists of young children, is injected with the message that these objects and behaviors are considered cool and in style. No one can really explain where these fads come from, or why people adopt them so readily. It would be interested to take a look at why certain trends have been able to withstand the test of time, and what makes some last longer than other. Kids these days are much more tech savvy and know much more about the world. This increased exposure makes simple gadgets and toys from 20 years ago unappealing to young people today. It is really a shame because kids think that these simple pleasures aren't cool anymore.

Here is a site that shows some of the fads from the 20th century:

www.crazyfads.com