this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2025
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Most things. Hype is usually just marketing, at least nowadays. I've seen a lot of hypes come and go, and it's always the same playbook.
Products don't blow up unless they're profitable to sell in the first place. So when I hear everyone going crazy over a new product or concept, I try to analyze what's in it for the businesses.
If it's a general concept that a bunch of different vendors suddenly all start selling online, usually they can be found on alibaba for a fraction of the price by a bunch of niche Chinese companies who's been making them in relatively small volumes for years and only recently did a bunch of "entrepreneurs" discover them and set up their dropshipping operations with associated viral marketing tactics. Fidget spinners were a good example of this.
Or if the product is a food, it usually has a ton of sugar which has been shown to be extremely addictive and subconsciously gets your brain to want not just sugar in general, but the other flavours associated with it so you'll keep wanting more of the same product. Crumble cookies and "Dubai" chocolate come to mind.
Agree. Made a real effort in recent years to question the crap what I really need, and what’s a want vrs a need.
I feel a lot happier not buy stuff upon stuff. I’m trying to buy as much used/second hand as possible.
I don’t understand many of the product hypes. Why would you pay more to endorse someone’s brand. The cups. Like $50 for a cup. That’s crazy, you still drink the same water out of it.
I agree, they all appear rather insincere now. But maybe that's just because we've grown older?
I bet parents knew the pokemon card thing was selling cardboard for an insane price based on mostly marketing.