Microtrends are defined in a Harvard Crimson article by Ashley Lee as “cycles of short-lived trends that gain a high amount of attention in a fairly short period… then fall off the grid and lose public relevance.” They are especially prevalent and in high numbers today due to the popularity of social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, and the influence of their users. These fads can take almost any form, including fashion, food, slang, and hobbies.
Labubus
They’re fuzzy, bizarre monsters that have recently taken over the internet. Labubus are blindbox collectables with huge resale values. They’re likely popular due to the scarcity and surprise of unboxing. You can spend anywhere from twenty dollars to tens of thousands of dollars for some rare collectables. The most expensive one ever sold was for $170,000 at auction–a human-sized mint green Labubu. Are these here to stay, or are they just the fidget spinners of 2025, waiting for the next big trend to take over?
Crumbl Cookies
Distinguished by their weekly rotation of unique flavors, engaging experience, and expensive prices, Crumbl cookies have become a strong success in today’s culture. However, their quality is constantly debated, with many arguing that they are overhyped and underbaked. A controversial characteristic is how crumbly they are, possibly living up to their name a little too well. Others say they are too sweet and too high in calories, with one cookie being around 700-1000 calories and 40-70 grams of sugar. The newest Crumbl trend is the Dubai Chocolate Brownie–a fudgy brownie with a crunchy kataifi pistachio filling, chocolate shell, and pistachio cream drizzle. Released in late August 2025, this brownie has sold out in many locations due to its high demand. It may be the culmination of the Dubai chocolate trend, or even of the Crumbl brand itself. The brand’s popularity is more likely a current fad than a permanent staple. Crumbl is the 2025 version of frozen yogurt, an early 2010s food craze that died out shortly after.
Rhode Lipgloss Phone Case
Rhode, a makeup brand by Hailey Bieber, is known for its lip balms, blushes, and most notably, its phone case, which has become the latest phenomenon among teens and young adults. The brand Rhode is known for its minimalism and smoothness while revolving around the image of Hailey Bieber. This begs the question: is the brand itself high quality, or is it just trending for its association with Hailey Bieber? The most popular of the brand is the phone case. It comes in a variety of colors with an inflated silicone model, and an engraving on the back where the Rhode lip balm slides in perfectly. Many people go for this phone case to engage in social signalling, using celebrity products to show others that they are trendy and modern. Others genuinely like the design and appreciate the convenience of a built-in lip gloss, while the rest may find it unnecessary and inefficient.
“Six-seven”
This infuriating and repetitive phrase can and will be heard anywhere you go. What are people actually saying when they shout, “six-seven”? The term originated from the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla. Specifically, the line is “6-7, I just bipped right on the highway (bip, bip)”. What this means is anybody’s guess. The term was popularized when a video surfaced on TikTok and Instagram of a kid named Maverick Trevillian shouting to the camera at a basketball game, “Ayy 6-7!”.