Cringiest Trends of the 2010s

Human beings are susceptible creatures. Whether it be a viral dance on the internet, a ridiculous fashion fad, or an ill-founded health craze, we all want to be a part of what everyone’s talking about. Every era has had its fair share of dumb trends, but the 2010s seem particularly cringeworthy – possibly because the memories are still fresh in our minds. Here are a few of the cringiest trends that stand out above the rest.

The Mannequin Challenge

Rae Sremmurd’s Black Beatles is a great song, but I have no clue what it has to do with this ridiculous challenge. From family gatherings to schools to places of work, it seems like everyone in the world wanted to stand still as the camera recorded them for this ‘hilarious’ trend. The truth is, life moves on even if you don’t.

Pokémon Go

I’ll admit that I fell victim to this Nintendo-fueled craze when it first hit the app store in 2016. People of all ages glued to their phones and hunting imaginary monsters feels like something out of a bad sci-fi movie. Looking back, I can see how catching a Charmander while driving was an unwise move.

Kony 2012

I remember watching Invisible Children’s 30 minute Kony 2012 video when it first appeared on YouTube. For those who don’t know, Kony is a Ugandan warlord in charge of the Lord’s Resistance Army, and is responsible for training and abusing countless child soldiers to prolong his endeavors. It’s a terrible thing that deserves worldwide attention, but the fact that the YouTube video’s narrator, Jason Russell, was caught in the midst of a nude public breakdown mere weeks after the premiere took a lot away from the movement’s public support.

Acai Bowls

Acai bowls are pretty tasty, to be honest. After all, who wouldn’t like to eat a smoothie in a bowl, smothered in fruit, honey, and granola? The thing is, they boomed in popularity due to their supposed health benefits. Turns out most of them are jam-packed with sugar, and you’re better off just eating a banana and calling it a day.

The Cinnamon Challenge

The cinnamon challenge was hilarious the first time we all saw it, but after countless Facebook videos of your neighbors and cousins trying it out, the joke began to run stale. Seriously, what was the point here? Nobody can complete this thing without nearly dying of asphyxiation, and the health risks certainly negate any online clout/pity people received. Keep the cinnamon where it belongs: in your toast crunch.

Dino Stompers

Streetwear is all the hype these days. From Yeezys to Supreme drops, people obsess over the newest thing in the world of fashion. Unfortunately, one of these trends involves girls donning extra large and extra ugly fila sneakers. Aptly dubbed dinostompers, these rubber marshmallows aren’t adding anything positive to your wardrobe.

Fidget Spinners

Geez, just get a hobby. Fidget spinners were the quintessential time consumer of Adderal-fueled kids until TikTok rolled around to occupy their waning attention spans. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using a safe product to deal with excess energy, but the incessant whirring in classrooms had many teachers primed for an early retirement.