the cult of Squishmallows

[@SwellEntertainment]

Click here to download Vita Editor! vita.onelink.me/8u5N/47bf298a

[@tifKh]

I didn’t realize how much I hated the word squishmallow until you had to say it a million times.

[@camocat2038]

Just want to say that DDLG isn't the same as most submissive/age play kink stuff because as far as I know it's been taken over by genuine creeps using it as a cover for grooming of actual under aged girls. : / Also, now I know why someone with DID I knew didn't use the term littles for the younger alters, they just said they had some bad associations with the term.

[@alexfischer982]

Another thing that feels like a cult but isn’t a cult: Funko Pops

[@Eyebrowking_kkslider]

As a Pop collector, I agree

[@TwoBs]

Ew, yes. I remember a couple of years ago running into GameStop real quick to get my son a new XB1 controller and there was a guy there with his daughter (looked maybe 4 or 5 years old) looking at the Funko Pops they had lined against the wall. This dude was down on his knees sifting through the boxes, checking behind certain ones, asking if they could check in the back if they had this or that, etc. while the kid stood there with one in her hands asking “can I get this one?” I’m not sure what the character was that she had, just remember her asking if she could please get it, but he kept telling her no because *HE* needed to find a certain one because he had already drove to 2 other GameStop stores and can’t be wasting money on ones he “doesn’t need”. As I was being rung up, he made the girl put the Funko Pop back that she had in her hand and told her they were leaving because they didn’t have the one he wanted. Grown ass adult acting frantic over a piece of plastic while the kid just saw it as a toy and wanted one to play with. Just lovely.

[@carpenter_4lifee]

As a squish and pop collector, agree.

[@tat2mytoes]

Facts lol

[@therealplaguerat]

Same but im really just collecting for the money

[@d_eexe]

"So.. how's the divorce going?" "Horrible, I can barely take it anymore... she took the fucking squishmallows"

[@cooltime4800]

This reminds me of the couple who got a divorce and had to split up the benie baby collection lmao

[@lonelybee5406]

@@cooltime4800yeah lmao

[@bluesky5384]

@@cooltime4800 I was going to comment the same thing 😂

[@Gelbraddy]

the closest thing to a "squishmallows after dark" thing i can come up with are the handful of tiktoks ive seen where people manually flip all their squishmallows over before they do the dirty in bed because it would be rude and unsightly for the squishmallows to have to watch that. It's kind of wholesome but also really funny.

[@abbiiON]

LMAO I have done that with mine, didn't know it was a thing

[@EvansFamilyLegoProject]

If you can do it with your Squishies watching, you have big problems. I can't afford therapy for our family of stuffed Minecraft pigs. I'm definitely guilty of this.

[@faeb.9618]

bruh i flip over all my plushies just to change my clothes gnfjdkgrnjdsgr

[@ellec7188]

I was just called out lol👀

[@pasteldoll7274]

I mean yeah I do the same with my plushies, that or just grab them all and put them outside of the bedroom XD

[@aksez2u]

I was in Walmart today and a handful of kids came running down the aisle, squealing and screaming. I was a little annoyed until I saw that they were SO excited about an overflowing bin of Squishmallows 😆. They were followed by their dad who also looked so happy and he was saying something like "You have so many to pick from!" It was very sweet and wholesome.

[@cyrus2430]

that’s so adorable 😭 i can just imagine how much his face was probably glowing that his kids finally get to get their favorite toy

[@tarakennedy2512]

Oh this is so sweet, there’s nothing more amazing as a kid than finally getting the toy you always wanted, or finding just that ONE special toy that you fall in love with and carry with you for the rest of your life. I found my cheerbear when I was nine years old, and she’s still with me today. I’m twenty-six ☺️

[@misskirika2043]

My mom got me a little frog with heart cheeks a couple year ago. I decided to look it up to see if I could find a matching one for my boyfriend, only to find that I apparently have some kind of priceless artifact. Neat.

[@OKBgosh]

Philippe! 😂

[@annah8921]

Same here! I love that lil frog, my mom got me it during valentines

[@cosmicexplorer42]

nooo i want him so bad

[@LoveAndSnapple]

They reminds me of the netsuke from Bob’s Burgers.

[@_TheRoseCrow]

I have a valentines shark and w o w I literally payed 15 dollars and now it can go for 158

[@SheKnives]

This brings back memories of the beanie baby crazy in the late 90s. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[@isaofaeaea]

And the beanie boo one in the late 2000s /early 2010s!

[@AshBlast333]

Yeah as a 27 year old I remember having SO many beanie babies.

[@rl318]

And Magic: The Gathering cards. Speculation and implied arbitrary value is the cornerstone of consumerism. Nothing beats the riots over Cabbage Patch Kids though, that was crazy.

[@yolklor]

exactly what i was gonna say! it also means that the craze will eventually plummet and we'll see tons of them in thrift stores lol.

[@sometimessunday6171]

Yes! And that picture of that girl in her collection of squishmallows gives me the same vibes as that picture of a couple dividing up their beanie babies in court.

[@ashleydavis8044]

Squishmellows are going to become Pillowpets. Do y’all remember how everyone had ATLEAST one? Now you can’t go into a Goodwill without finding one.

[@Bast-hs5sz]

I still have my PillowPets! they held up pretty well tbh

[@princessmanitari4993]

honestly, in my country it only became a thing at like 2014 which was when most of the people around my age where getting into smartphones instead. i did see all of the commercials though! but they were more like tellcell commercials then proper toy commercials (barbie, mylittlestpetshop etc.)

[@sullyrane653]

I still have my pillow pet 😭 its a giraffe 💕 But I also have a kitty squishmallow (when they first came out, my besty got it for me as a pregnancy present) and then I got a giant turkey one a couple months later from my bf when I gave birth. Ive shown no interest in squishmallows as a whole, yet ive ended up with a small and XL one lol

[@elizabethzelaya6710]

Its a pillow Its a pet Its a pillowpet! 🎶

[@brainrot5267]

Pillowpets are still insanely popular, especially now with their scented ones! The strawberry and blueberry cows always sell out within minutes and I heard they’re even making a Pride Pillowpet lol

[@kris2030]

I am a middle school teacher and one of my students gifted me an Elephant Squishmellow named Diego. Gotta admit, he's pretty great.

[@Starburst514]

Awww! That's really sweet!

[@me0wlodyy763]

I love Diego, I found him earlier this week 🥺💙🐘 If you don't mind me asking, have you ever taught Poetry?! If yes, that is simply the sweetest thing and I am ascending to heaven😭💕 (Ps; If no, STILL the sweetest thing and STILL the same result-😹🤪😇)

[@kris2030]

@@me0wlodyy763 I do teach poetry actually, lol! I am a Language Arts teacher.

[@theocritus7215]

I gave my 10th grade English teacher a similar product. “Squishables” and I got them for my friends and her that Christmas. Literally cringe so hard remembering it. I did get flak for it from friends about being weird then, but I didn’t feel it til so much time passed. It’s been like 8-9 years.

[@kris2030]

@@theocritus7215 Aw, I'm sorry, but no need to cringe. I'm sure your teacher really appreciated it. I always feel good when I get something from my students. Whether it be a drawing, card, or stuffed animal. It is sweet and lets me know that they appreciate me. :)

[@meghans6556]

I think part of the "scarcity" partially comes from the feel that the offical squishmallow website is super sketchy and super hard to just buy directly from the source

[@1181darkfire]

the squish hunt is unrivaled no greater feeling then catching one in the wild …

[@Trees...]

I just saw an entire shelf at my local fred Myers, haha.

[@SnapshotOfASoul]

I got into Squishmallows about a year after they came out - they hit it BIG in the autism/ADHD communities I'm in well before anything else. I use them to reward myself for big events in my life, like passing a written driver's exam, having successfully sought help for something I was scared about, or just because I was having a terrible month, and each has their own meaning that's like a tiny little trophy for me to embrace and say, I did it!

[@roronoazoro5726]

yeahh same i do that too when i wrote an maths exam haha

[@DeadThingWalking]

Squishmallows feels like modern Beanie Babies. Beanie Babies also had little characterizing descriptions if I remember correctly, and also sparked a infamous collector culture. Collectables are becoming the norm in toys nowadays. Any time I buy a toy for my kid, you open the packaging and it advertise other toys in the line including 'rare' or 'collectable' variants.

[@solarprogeny6736]

collectible* but u tried

[@ladyjellyfish4757]

Yeah they all came with names and I think little poems on the tag

[@ByLittleBug]

@@solarprogeny6736 ....but it IS spelled 'collectable'

[@StonedSammieSue]

Forgive my ignorance but may this be considered gambling? I wonder where the line is for kid gambling toys

[@princessmanitari4993]

@@StonedSammieSue that's called card packs or those packs that are at the cashier, where you have lil' packs with random sets of cards, figures or lil grocery items. i remember the high school musical cards....

[@alexmacgregor9631]

If you talk about mini brands, you need to look into the trend of making earrings from them! It's a big trend in lesbians circles but has extended outward 😂

[@constantreader1422]

i must have flaming hot cheetos ones, oh god.

[@ashleybringmann105]

Was coming to comments to say as much myself as a person who makes earrings/necklaces from mini brands because I think they are cute and needed something to do with them after opening them.

[@no-pajamapanda8548]

I collect those with my kid just for the jewelry factor. Honestly I just wanted an excuse for soy sauce earrings.

[@solaceskies1]

i collect them with my sister just because i find them fascinating 😂

[@kgal1298]

I had to look this up and I hate it.

[@maevemonroe]

David Attenborough: "The intrepid hunter revels in the thrill of the chase. Her elusive prey: the squishy pineapple."

[@californiacobra527]

YES!!! 😆

[@beautyonabarnbudget]

❤ this comment so fuqin much!!!

[@rotisseriepossum]

god I need a cameo of him saying this

[@tarakennedy2512]

I read it in his voice 😆

[@FerraticaTheBard]

I just quit a job at Build-a-Bear back in May, and I swear, almost every day I was there, this video ran through my head. It's a fun store, but oh my gosh, it feels so culty! I had customers come in and say they came and got a new plush every week, and others that proudly announced they had collections ranging from fifty to a hundred and fifty of these things. And they aren't cheap purchases - with clothes and accessories, it's super easy to drop a hundred dollars on a single purchase! It's insane, and worth looking into if you want to do another video on plush toys, especially since this is a multi-generational not-a-cult-feels-like-a-cult. That parents proudly indoctrinate their kids into.

[@Meimoons]

Question, is it weird to get a build a bear as an adult? the last time I went to buy one, I was a college student and may still want to get more as an adult.

[@FerraticaTheBard]

@@Meimoons Nah, we got adults in shopping for themselves all the time, and you can bet every single person working at the store has at least a few of their own (it's a... dangerous job, if you have a weakness for plushies). If you want to buy one as an adult, go for it.

[@Jordan-hs3xk]

I went to build a bear just for my Tom nook. I couldn’t imagine getting anymore it special to just have one to me lol

[@abigailhebert7248]

I think the reason why the Target team member gave you that look was because we get asked countless times about these things and then usually the guest is never satisfied with a simple “in stock” or “out of stock” answer. I usually have guest try to get me to look up truck deliveries, the status at other stores, or complain along the lines of “well on this fb group it says that these targets should have gotten them in” or “these should be out in stores now, why don’t you have any?” Be nice to your retail employees y’all. We’re just trying to do our jobs. And I genuinely want to help people find what they need, but we don’t have all the answers.

[@tarakennedy2512]

God I’m sorry, people are insane

[@XxEmilyAnomalyXx]

When my friends and I were into webkinz circa 2006, the best gift you could give was a hallmark store gift card for the exact dollars and cents of a full size webkinz with tax. Immaculate culture.

[@ryxnmxrie]

the hallmark story was my HEAVEN

[@april4524]

YES

[@isabelladumitrescu2543]

Omg what a buried memory

[@nerdoftheatre]

My Hallmark had Webkinz punch cards and Istg I went through at least two of them. (The 10th one was free, so I got at least 20 whoops.) There's still a dedicated fanbase to the game. Tbh I'm glad to see it still going, it's such a lovely community.

[@UncleMikeDrop]

Maui isn't judging you, but she is watching you, she can see your dreams, and she knows your every fear.

[@terriblygluedtogether4564]

this reminds me of the little Coraline doll

[@mfitzburger5137]

what can I say except *_AHHHHHHHHH_*

[@yvechapman9342]

She feeds on your nightmares. Fear fuels her.

[@beautyonabarnbudget]

Ah fuq. Now u did it

[@UncleMikeDrop]

@@terriblygluedtogether4564 Kinda, yeah.

[@Cremridgelyricsbiggestfan]

Local squishmellow hoarder here: The scarcity depends where you are, months ago I could walk into any store and I could have my pick of squishmellows but now I can’t even get my hands on a single squishmellow. Also like you said they rose in popularity but they still remained cheap price as before but ever since the scalpers came in those cheap prices went up so that is why we are mad.

[@darianasosa7298]

No joke. I tried to buy one for myself months ago because people told me they helped with anxiety. For the size and quality, they weren't pricey. In the end I didn't cause I started collecting something else. But now that I want to find one for my cousin, it's kinda impossible. Can't find them anywhere at a reasonable price. It also sucks cause I don't live in the US, so that makes things more difficult

[@someonerandom1198]

I had the exact same experience. My friend had wanted a squishmallow so bad and not only could we not find any stores in the area, but online is so expensive it's ugly. In the end I just gave her one of mine shfkshfj

[@shoobamocha]

Not the worst way to make money

[@wonderfulrose477]

Why tf you an adult collecting stuffed animals aimed at little kids anyway?

[@dothmotherknowyouwearth]

@@wonderfulrose477 I mean… she can do what do wants to do… unless you’re genuinely asking from curiosity

[@babahu15]

I noticed that stuffed animals now have this soft fabric whereas the ones that I grew up with had literal fake fur and that's so much more satisfying to me on a comfort level

[@alabamaslammer3921]

Yeah i find fake fur so itchy even if the plush is cute

[@LindseyTaft]

Literally never planned on ever owning one of these, but the day of my first vaccine shot I had to wait around in a CVS and I found an aisle of them and found one that had MY NAME. So I bought it as a joke and one for my sibling. Then months later I was in a target and sent them a photo of a giant Maui and they Venmo’d me right there and demanded I get it for them. I created a monster lol

[@maggiebottoms6526]

I got an Ariel one a little while back without knowing what I had LOL

[@y2kmermaid64]

Beanie babies kinda had the opposite problem than Pokemon cards. Everyone thought they'd be worth like thousands of dollars as time went on, but once the craze wore off you could basically find any of them at any thrift store for like a dollar both with and without tag. The bigger ones "Beanie Buddies" I think they were called are kinda hard to find depending on which one but again, usually can be found second hand at thrift stores if you're really persistent. Also thank you Swell for making me feel old by reminding me that webkinz were a thing and I thought I was too old to collect stuffed toys when they came out.

[@LightestKing]

The man behind Beanie Babies, Ty Warner is interesting to say the least lol. I remember when as a kid one of the biggest fads I was a part of were those little robotic hamsters Zhu Zhu Pets, memories. 😫

[@LightestKing]

@M. de k. That makes a lot of sense, but I think another reason was Beanie Babies rarity was artificial. The dude who made them (Ty Warner) purposely pretended that some of the Beanie Babies would be "retired" and that once they were gone they wouldn't be made again, but in reality his company would made a surplus of those ones but only give a few to stores at a time to make it look like it was in higher demand than it really was (hope that makes sense lol). So people assumed that those soon-to-be "retired" ones would skyrocket in value but as we know now, it was all a lie. It happens all the time though, it's the same tactic Nintendo uses for their game consoles, they make a TON of their new product but only release a few at a time to make it seem like there's a huge scarcity. It's the reason why both the 2016-NES and 2017-SNES classic struggle to sell for more than $150 (their original price was $80) despite how much people were led to believe there was a huge demand and a big scarcity that would make them worth several hundreds in a few years. Toy companies are the biggest scammers of all! :-P

[@K.Marie119]

Two words: Mini Beanie Babies... I think I nearly turned into a chicken nugget I ate so many happy meals. 😅

[@YoBGS]

Totally didn't know this was a cult. Saw them in the clearance bin at Kroger and grabbed a couple because they make good pillows...

[@ravenpotter3]

Same but I only could get 2 from 5 below

[@sydbap21]

I bought a little one from a Hallmark because I thought it was cute, also didn't know it was a cult

[@Storm-df3ei]

yeah i have a couple i use as pillows cause they’re actually super comfy

[@somberpaw]

It's not a cult, it's justlike a cult.

[@neonxvices]

yeah same, my grandparents got me a couple cause they thought they were cute

[@kyliedroid]

My husband works at Starbucks and said you should cover the reusable cup craze!! It is wild, especially how licensed stores (like the ones in target) have different stock, so people *have* to go to all the different stores.

[@KlearlyIMme]

At mine we get so little all the good ones get bought by us. I kinda hate when we get them bc I feel compelled to buy them for no reason

[@shannonspeakmanmaxwell2155]

I've had a collection of these suckers going since 2017 accidentally. The husband likes to pick up cute things for me when he sees them randomly, so now they sit on my couch looking cute and ready for midday naps. The big ones make wonderful pillows.

[@JasminMiettunen]

I was thinking that a big one like that seems like such a soft and squishy pillow, I kinda want one but I guess it’s just the gen z in me

[@reinasherman8009]

I have thought about buying one for pillow purposes because they look like a wonderful pillow option

[@CorpKitten]

As someone who used the large-ish size (16in, I think?) as a pillow for several years, I can personally confirm that they make amazing pillows

[@Famestar6]

One i used to know felt like a cult was the whole LPS craze that happened when I was growing up. There was like whole communities dedicated to those things its fascinating.

[@theresa3946]

I remember LPStube. There was a KZbinr who rewatched LPS popular.

[@galactikw01f]

I still want that damn ComicCon Exclusive LPS Superhero Cat

[@thekawaiipandaa2573]

Yep, I was in that fandom, I collected the overly expensive toys and spent 100 on that Savvy one from LPS Popular lol. I got soo into it and basically collected over 300 of them! I still have most of my LPS and I'm 20 now.

[@Famestar6]

@@thekawaiipandaa2573 Yess I had both the Savvy and the male lead one (can't really remember his name) I think LPStube dug me deeper into the rabbit hole.

[@thekawaiipandaa2573]

@@Famestar6 Savvy, Sage, Brooke and Tom :)

[@kamaluonalani11]

As a former arcade manager, I cannot even begin to tell you the hype these squishmallows have. Back in 2018/2019 we had many of these in our crane games. Most of the other arcades in our region didn't catch on until late 2018 around christmas. But we've had more grandparents fighting and yelling on the game floor than children. When refilling cranes I've been pushed, sworn at, and I've had a few grandmas even offer me money for them. It's become a weird flex where grandparents can show their friends all of their friends these instagram and tiktok posts of their grandchildren bragging about their collections, and saying "my grandkid always loves my gifts, we collect together, he/she goes to school and brags about squishmallow shopping with me, I'm the cool grandparent, etc." It's the most heartwarming craze of all time, except for all the elderly meltdowns when the hype was at its peak.

[@lindajohnson1873]

Your story is so adorable!! I sold definitely get a real kick out of seeing the grandparents act out over squishmallows. 😂❤

[@LampShadeAffair]

speaking of scarcity & toy collecting in the vein of “what feels like a cult but isn’t”, have you looked into the longfurby/furby mod community?

[@c_2279]

Thats definitely a cult lmaoo

[@theoistrying9904]

Omg that shit makes me laugh. I love it

[@julesking1303]

collab w/ Strange Æons? Lol

[@seren5468]

I'm not sure it counts as toy collecting so much as an art community with furbies as the medium? I see it as another stem off the OOAK doll community.

[@BritneyT.]

It's such a chaotic form of fun, I love it

[@michaelalpert8328]

Another thing that’s not a cult but feels like a cult: band kids

[@glue6679]

As a band kid, I agree

[@littlewyzard]

my band literally calls itself a cult, we’re not even subtle at this point 😭😭

[@michaelalpert8328]

@@littlewyzard not at all one year we had an award for the section that was the most cult-like and ofc saxes won

[@sullyrane653]

And choir kids, or drama kids, etc 😂😂

[@molokovelocet1]

Former band kid here, yes you are correct

[@jade4025]

its so funny cuz im collecting beanie babies not for “value” but for childhood nostalgia and them genuinely making me happy. Hopefully, squishmallows will become accessible in the future when they can be just cute stuffed animals that you love and cherish

[@quite_contrary_9956]

Omg that’s so awesome! I don’t have the money right now to start collecting beanie babies but the ones that I have are so precious to me! Best of luck on your collection 💖

[@tiffanyevans2076]

I started looking for certain beanie babies again. I have like four or five of the McDonald's Happy Meals ones at my office at work (thanks to my mother-in-law for finding a load in their basement). I have some squish (like 11) mostly cause it's a style I like or in one case since I am in the LGBTQ community and use they/them pronouns, one uses those exact pronouns and it made me a little gitty about it. I might just have a stuff animal problem, but hey it's how I cope with my trauma lol.

[@kariechaos5382]

thats what the squishmallow thing reminds me of. The Beanie Baby thing in the early 1990s when people were like GOING AFTER them in like a mad mad way.

[@tiffanyevans2076]

@@kariechaos5382 Yeah I mean I get it. I see it as a whole generation who is seeing such a shitty and depressing world not wanting to be in that crummy world alone, so finding comfort in stuffed animals or something collectible to make them feel something. I do think a lot of the people collecting Squishmallows are a bit crazy, like I found one at Walmart recently that I bought and it was the first one I had bought since December (which one was for myself and the other was for my sister). People ruin the fun or things kinda like beanie babies getting overly hyped or the Funko Pop collectors.

[@CamiisCorner]

I’m in the same “zillenial” boat where my millenial friends say I’m a zoomer. And my gen z friends say I’m a millenial. Also in the webkinz boat. That is our culture for sure

[@positiveecho326]

I wonder if that will become a new micro generation like Xennials / Oregon Trail Generation (1977-1985) is for Millennials and Gen Xers. Lol. I had to google webkinz. The only thing similar for Xennials were those tomagatchi pet things.

[@Syd_Abel]

Proud to be part of the webkinz gen

[@Xxx_EvilSmurf_xxX]

You can’t “hoard” books, you’re growing a library.

[@ddjsoyenby]

i'm not hoarding manga i'm making a library.

[@SwedePotato314]

Thank you. You understand me. You get me. I'm asking my husband read this.

[@MePatra]

This makes me feel better

[@lilywxjzu]

@pumpkink my nutcracker collection grows bc i told my mom i thought they were cool like once and now she keeps buying me more every christmas LMAO

[@zimbu_]

I use a three foot stack of textbooks on my desk as something to put my webcam and its light on and you just made me feel better about myself.

[@Big0leBee]

The thing that isn’t a cult but feels like a cult: People who buy/sell/make custom keyboards.

[@ddjsoyenby]

pc gaming snobs.

[@kathleenpage2861]

@@nharber9837 I say go for it. A geode keyboard sounds amazing. I'm sure there's a lot of really cool people doing keyboard customs, as well as the snobs. That's the unfortunate thing about most hobbies :/ Or fortunate, depending on how you look at it.

[@kraziiXIII]

I think that kinda falls into any form of customization for gaming rigs (PC or Console) and gaming tech in general. Making custom keyboards, controllers, microphones, headsets, computers, and mice are all pretty massive subcultures. Like some of it just improves the product by increasing performance or sound (the clickclack must be the correct clickclack lol) while others just improve the appearance of the item like any form of phone case or laptop sticker would. Like it doesn't fall into the cult-like nature as much as Rae Dunn or the Nuggets do.

[@switchbox.studio283]

Can confirm.

[@RedSmellsLikeOrange]

oh hi its me

[@SuperKawaiiCupcakes]

“I’m part of whichever group you’re mad at at the moment” LMAO as a fellow 23 year old this feels so right

[@TwixtheFox]

Same tho. I don't understand generation fighting :p Just seems ridiculous lol

[@asmrtpop2676]

@@TwixtheFox it was mostly started by boomers, with some help from the silent gen. it started with hate for everything millenials did “wrong” that was the result of the world they had set us up to be in. and a lot of failing to understand things like loans or credit scores that financially disprivileged us in ways they didn’t experience as deeply or for as long. then they just forgot that gen z is a different term and kept hating anyone and everyone. millenials for the most part just let gen z do their thing, we don’t always get it but that’s how it’s supposed to be. but we do what we can to change the world for the better because gen z doesn’t deserve to suffer. we all are suffering tho :(

[@music42380]

Squishmallows are just a special type of comfort. It’s the generational trauma of the cuspers imo

[@Dvgteeth]

They’re so soft and perfectly huggable!

[@AbbyLeaf101]

There's just something about the specific density and squish quality that is really comforting and reassuring, and which I've never found anywhere else really. I only have two, though, and no plans to get any more

[@orbit1401]

“risk of punching a scalper in the face” Now that’s journalism.

[@doityourselfbombs]

underrated comment

[@alexschofield8555]

"I'm part of whatever group you're mad at" is cusper culture honestly

[@that_dam_baka]

Yep. Worst of both. 😂

[@ariellelyons]

first rae dunn, now squishmallows, i’m feeling attacked as a marshalls employee

[@ivanamurphy6917]

Omg stop I rang some up thinking they were dog toys. Until my customer told me what it was.

[@moonrabbit9621]

I'm 15, and my dad works for Kellytoy, the company that created squishmallows. I remember when they first came out, before they got popular, and didn't think much of it, but now it's pretty insane to watch from the sidelines as everyone gets hyped up about these plushies. I get samples and whatnot pretty often, so I give them out which feels like giving a scrap of jerky to a pack of wild dogs. pretty funky stuff.

[@shadowofthecandle]

"Why is this stuffed animal different from any other stuffed animal?" Ah yes, the newest Passover question.

[@nathanwest603]

Sobbing this is so funny

[@ashe1758]

LMAO

[@kendallgehrke429]

TBH I've found that the squish density in squishmallows are really good for pillows with chronic pain - my partner and I honestly have quite a few of these just because neither my fibromyalgia nor my partner's various autoimmune disorders flare up if we use these

[@redkuromi]

I have fibromyalgia and they are incredible pillows, i slept on a pink dinosaur for a year before finding out it was worth $100+ :(

[@hello-l4n]

omg exactly! its not just the cute plush factor lol theyre genuinely comfy and have the best texture

[@nonlinearnonsubjective3304]

Yes! I have a little one that I use as an extra pillow. I have an autoimmune disease and it's very hard for me to sleep and I wake up a lot due to pain a lot and the little squishmallow has been really useful. I only have one larger one, though now that my cat is less into sucking on everything soft I'll probably start using that again too, but I had to keep it out of cat reach for a while.

[@number1spritefan]

the heroes we didn’t know we needed

[@Hannah-fq4gq]

yesss its the texture!!

[@alicia379]

If they’re “like beanie babies” they won’t be worth shit in the future. I had SO many. I think only the Princess Di bear held any value. And mine got ruined in a flood.

[@alicia379]

@@aduckofsomesort it was direct response to something she said, drama seeker. 🤦🏼‍♀️😆

[@gringa978]

Still have my Diana bear!!

[@GabrielaDeLaVega2905]

I've got two of those Lady D Beanie Babies, I also have a shit ton of regular Beanie Babies but mostly because I have a weird obsession with plushies and those are very cute and small.

[@alicia379]

@@GabrielaDeLaVega2905 I think the only Diana bear that ended up being worth something was the deep purple one. My fave was the tie dye Grateful Dead bear.

[@gringa978]

@@gsesquire3441 wait the dark purple one princess Di is actually worth something? My grandmother got it for me as a kid and it's sat in a box since

[@robineras477]

Re scarcity and scalping: lots of squish are only sold regionally (only in certain countries/states/stores). This makes it harder to find so people will pay wild prices to get them. Further some are a limited release. It’s artificial scarcity. And the prices drive up in a bubble and then collapse (ie patty). Also not sure if it’s a real connection but I know a lot of autistic people (like me) love them because the texture is so nice. It can really help with sensory overload.

[@cptjo]

another autistic person here!! yes!! i use them as well for sensory stuff :)

[@meganwadsworth9958]

Yes! The squishmallow community is super great for Autistic and neurodivergent people!!

[@NicrophorusVesp]

I've heard of them but I've never seen them in the UK, I have a jellycat for my sensory goodness.

[@Pikadumpling]

im not nd ( i think im still figuring this out) but they definitely help a lot. i have the blue fox keith and his ears are kinda crunchy so he's my favorite.

[@randomthoughts0829]

I recently started "hunting" for squishmallows after being gifted some/winning them at carnivals and i have to say, as long as you're being casual and only looking for ones you really love, you'll be fine. Stay away from the mentality of collecting for collecting' sake. I just think the toys are cute, and i wanna get one or two huge ones because ive out grown my previous plushies for sleeping (by "grown out" i just mean i can't wrap my arms/body around them anymore). It's also an excuse to hang out with my buddies and bond over something before they go off to college again

[@-streaminadream-5356]

!!! yeah exactly 🤝

[@paulleidich5635]

My favorite part about being gen z is that people tell me what gen z is into and I never know what it is

[@tired_s1oth]

Y'all. These little squishy stuffed animals are just so cute. As a millennial, my body does not produce the right amount of serotonin anymore. So if a $30 stuffed animal does it, so be it lol. As a millennial, I'm too broke for drugs, so this is option #2. (This is a joke, don't do drugs. Stay in school. Drink water. Attempt sleep every night)

[@marohoh]

Same. Same...

[@1swerdna]

Precisely. It’s coffee and Squishmellows for me. Mizz Nellie Squish and Bobby give me a greater serotonin boost than my self-absorbed cat, lol.

[@ohbilleh]

I agree with this. And so do the two squishmellows on my bed.

[@Donutsmakemegonuts]

I feel you. There are a lot of free things that can give you a good dopamine hit though!

[@idlesun1645]

Highlight on "attempt"

[@mrbubblewand]

I only heard about Squishmallows while hunting for Pokemon cards. People have been scalping a lot of the popular collectables for the past 6+ months. Trading cards, sports cards, Squishmallows. The pandemic is very much a factor in the scarcity. People are trying to flip product for a quick buck.

[@cptjo]

also, out of boredom. i would not say it's purely financial or else a regularly $25 squishmallow wouldn't be marked up to $60 like they are. just out of reach for non collectors to not purchase, so they don't become too widely available. very much normal collector techniques! i think it's so interesting how this culture has seemingly revived.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

Wait. Some of these things are worth more than face value? My kids have a bunch of them.

[@mrbubblewand]

@@Sam_on_KZbin It greatly depends on the rarity and condition of the item as well as demand. A minty fresh plush with its tag still intact is going to net more. I suggest looking at eBay and Mercari for a general idea.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

@@mrbubblewand Nothing we have paid for (we don't buy expensive stuffies) and has been well loved by my kids is going to fall into that category.

[@katien.3946]

It reminds me of Animal Crossing amiibo cards. They weren’t super valuable before the pandemic/the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and then skyrocked in price. Along with the Sanrio x Animal Crossing amiibo collab restock, it made them easily scalpable (at $6 a piece for the entire set) and were highly wanted by people.

[@silviafarfallina]

Me, a core millenial, one of the olds: "Oh. So this is gen z Beanie Babies."

[@kraziiXIII]

As a "young" millennial, I second this notion. 26 ain't young to the Gen Zers lmao.

[@Skittl1321]

I think Beanie Boos are the thing for those younger than Gen Z. Those things are like crack for preschoolers.

[@ukanlosgod7250]

To be fair, I'm 25 and I have like 200 Beanie Boos

[@dothmotherknowyouwearth]

LMAO actually I know a pretty young Gen Z kid (they’re like 14 now?) that collects Beanie Babies (not Boos, Babies) and they have a decently sized collection (not too big but you know they collect them by looking at the group).

[@abyssalnightmare551]

true

[@thechronicdolls9019]

Right now the Squishmallows brand is doing exactly what beanie babies did, pretend they're super rare and limited to drive scalpers to buy them out and hike up the demand artificially. It's really frustrating because I genuinely have developed a genuine love for them (as I have with most stuffed animals tbh lol) and for certain ones the resellers & the brand have made it so i, as a disabled person w/out the ability to drive myself places, cannot find them outside of the internet. Also on Instagram I have seen a bunch of collectors who are in their 20s talk about being practically assaulted by 50 year old men over their place in line at Hot Topic squishmallow drops so... I am not risking my physical safety for stuffies no matter how cute lol and will be sticking to online purchases/what I happen to find if I walk in a store by chance.

[@L013-r9y]

As someone who worked at a Walgreens that sold squishmallows, I can tell you the reason those Target employees gave you a look was because those things can be SUPER ANNOYING. Because of the hype, you get crazy customers looking for those, and since they can be giant they caused havock in our stockroom. On the other hand.....I did get a giant pig one with an employee discount and it's ADORABLE

[@hmcvay]

yikes, not the cult that’s not a cult that I may or may not be apart of… I HAVE BEEN ATTACKED.

[@carolin2544]

"And they say white people have to culture" I choked on my coffee 😂

[@JonSudlowpc]

Hating your own race and talking shit about it is also a sad part of millennial/gen z culture

[@Purplemustperish]

@@JonSudlowpc Ikr sad

[@moeszyslak3097]

It weirds me out that these are current and popular with Gen Z. They look so intensely like they're from 2008-2012

[@wareforcoin5780]

They're already hitting on nostalgia of Gen Z. Kinda predatory, since these are still kids.

[@singerofsongss]

Among elder gen Z rn, there’s a whole culture of 2008-2012 nostalgia. Some of it comes from the fashion industry with the rise of y2k, but my theory is that a lot of it also comes from the pandemic and all of us being stuck, many of us being college students now who were stuck in our childhood homes for the past year and a half. Brands are capitalizing on the fact that we want to feel like children again, since we can’t be adults just yet. We even see this with the rise in popularity of cozy games and games aimed at younger audiences. Hell, I put legit hours into Toontown Rewritten in 2020. I’ve enjoyed the nostalgia and I think we’ll see even more of it as we all re-enter civilization and bring a bit of whimsy into the real world with squishmallows and tennis skorts and big chunky earrings

[@cruztastrophe]

This is probably why I love them. I'm a millennial. I had no money in 2008-2012. Now, as an adult, I have the surplus funds to get myself a cute plush if I feel like it.

[@PV-po6zt]

@@singerofsongss As a note, glad other people also played toontown as children, almost everyone I know has no clue what it is

[@singerofsongss]

@@PV-po6zt there is something about that game that makes it completely timeless! Everyone I know who loved it as a kid also loves it as an adult from time to time

[@annoyingslippers]

I think this is one you should revisit. They’ve now created scarcity with location specific Squishmallows and reselling is wildly expensive.

[@mayacortez1987]

I started collecting in January of this year when my boyfriend stopped talking to me and when my friendship with my best friend began to fall apart. I’m serious it gave me something fun to do and keep my mind off it. I love hunting for them and finding the one you want is such a rush. I love these little guys. I haven’t seen it as much of a negative thing. They are super cheap and all in all I’ve probably only spent a little over a hundred bucks. As some were gifts. My favorite is my big pillow sized dragon which I lay on everyday.

[@hollya6408]

Something that feels like a cult but isn’t a cult: k pop stans on Twitter

[@Dinanysos]

I'm part of them and yet I'm still not so convinced that it really isn't a cult

[@whatsername465]

That is a cult (with peace and love)

[@caitlynrose6178]

as a kpop stan on twitter, it is a cult. and actually i think u can apply that to any really big fandom on twitter- ariana grande, nicki minaj, taylor swift, etc all have the same type of stans on twitter

[@linasayshush]

It's a cult. I'm an Ahgase (Got7 fan) and someone the other day was talking about, and I quote, "recruit" younger people without jobs and responsibilities who will have more time to tweet about the band and stream their content, because their fanbase is too old. Like, it's a cult. I'm in it, but it's a cult.

[@TwoBs]

@@linasayshush …. hopefully you all at least speak up on that and call it out where appropriate. That shouldn’t be considered the norm or encouraged. This is a long one so bear with me here lol. Things may seem innocent on the surface (ie: “oh, it’s just a fandom, all fandoms have bad eggs, they’re young and people do dumb things at that age, just let it be.”) as I’ve seen many do, but if you all are open enough to recognize it displays cult-like behaviors, then you acknowledge it’s a problem within the community and should be weeded out instead of overlooked (and sometimes passed off as a joke as I’m sure the people involved that’s being obsessed over doesn’t see it as one). Mostly because this stuff involves real life people that are being obsessively fawned over, and the way some behaviors have already been normalized and seen as “cute” or “funny” (ie: calling one’s self a “stan” in passing as if it’s NBD) is kinda’ wild to see considering how much is glossed over anymore or ignored because the extreme behaviors happen so often nowadays thanks to social media helping normalize it. Being apart of a fandom is fine, healthy even. I’ve been apart of many growing up and joined several clubs dedicated to certain boy bands, but I remember being on forums and at meetups and calling out people that behaved in that manner - people that encouraged obsessive behaviors and wanting others to behave like they did. It made the fandom look horrendous (much like how KPop fans are seen now), so it was constantly shunned and discouraged. I rarely see that anymore with fan groups. Instead, people acknowledge there’s problems, but largely ignore it because it’s become the norm (and it only got that way because no one bothers to speak up against it out of fear that other fans will shun and attack THEM). When people encourage the act of letting fandoms consume one’s time and life to where it comes off as obsessive, spending all their time on social media constantly talking about them, frantically keeping up with their every move/moment (especially if they’re young)…. it’s just sad. We’ve all seen and heard of the stories with rabid fans involving BTS alone (situations where lives are put at serious risk), and all of that happens because of how much is encouraged by other fans and considered normal behavior when it’s not, but they don’t know because they let this type of stuff consume their lives and only surround themselves with others who do the same. That should be actively discouraged. I’m not a BTS fan let alone a Kpop fan by any means, but a lot of the folks I’ve talked to over the years seem like great people …. but they ALL acknowledge how bad the fanbase is as a whole and how obsessive so many are, some even admitting out of shame that they’ve taken part in it themselves because everyone else was. That’s not good. I’d like to see fandoms get their names back and actually be something _good_ again. There’s nothing better than finding likeminded individuals to talk to and hang out with who enjoy the same stuff as you, but too many let the minority with extreme behaviors take over and ruin it for the rest.

[@amandaleggett]

as a mom of gen-z-squishmallow-hoarders, i am so here for this. edit: yes. yes i have hand washed my 15 year old’s squishmallows 😐

[@princessmanitari4993]

The dedication

[@rosemarie1281]

And we love you the more for it😌

[@singerofsongss]

You seem like a good mom if you’re willing to hand-wash a whole plushie collection. Love, an elder Gen Z!

[@ravenpotter3]

I need to wash mine

[@cptjo]

as a gen z squishmallow hoarder i appreciate you! do you have any good methods for handwashing the mallows?

[@daybreaker6038]

This is a self-callout post, but you could do a "not a cult but feels like cult video" for people who collect and trade k-pop photocards. It's a pretty fascinating world imo

[@wabisabi8875]

Yo I was in target the other day and found an album that someone had opened up and taken the card out of. Left literally everything else, CD included, but stole a freaking cardboard card. I enjoy collecting them but dang.

[@piagebot2943]

@@wabisabi8875 SAME HERE!! Except when I saw it happened someone also ripped pages out of the album and even took the poster?? And still left the cd!! Its so weird how some ppl r. Id like to see the security footage when that happens lmao

[@wabisabi8875]

@@piagebot2943 I got an NCT album from one of those Amazon return places as a birthday gift and it's missing the card and poster so I assume someone ordered the album, took stuff out, then sent it back?? Who does that?

[@piagebot2943]

@@wabisabi8875 i always though it just didnt come with the posters?? Have i been getting scammed this entire time??

[@wabisabi8875]

@@piagebot2943 I have a few 127 albums that came with posters, idk about the others. The one I got for my birthday was the NCT 2020 album which technically had a poster, but it was some weird rectangular thing that tbh was kinda ugly so I didn't care about It being taken. Plus I already had another copy of that album with everything in it anyway. Only slightly bitter about the photo card being gone because I'm trying to get my hands on Yuta lol

[@jennteal5265]

The Nugget couches and Squishmallows have reached a Nexus. My little sister has a 2 and 4 year old and they're obsessed with their Nugget AND their Squishies. There's Def some Millennial parents wrapped up in this.

[@rubyriot69]

i’ve been collecting for a little over a year now and i have a bit of a different perspective that i’d like to share. as someone with ADHD and on the autism spectrum, part of why i like them so much is that they’re all (excluding the fuzzamallows or the ones with hair) the same texture. it’s hard to find two stuffed animals in such a comfortable texture with two different designs so for my friends and at least em, that’s apart of the appeal. i also collect pillow pets for the same reason but there’s a hint of nostalgia with those because i had the dolphin one as a kid, and now they’re an easy thrift usually not costing more than 5 dollars. but back to the mallows, their designs have a consistent, cute style with not many from their lineup deviating from the egg-like shape. i also have an addictive personality and apparently can’t pick just ONE moneypit of a hobby because i also collect crystals and pokémon cards along with the aformentioned squish and pillowpets. it also has to do with my hyperfixations that tend to wax and wane but never fully go away. something just activates monke brain when i squish them that brings me a joy like no other stuffed animal has, so despite the scalping and fake sense of scarcity making a cow squishmallow go for over 300$, i still love collecting these lil’ guys. though i don’t aim to collect them all as that seems next to impossible and i’m very picky about my squish, i still have a good chunk of ones that i want to own someday.

[@JamEngulfer]

I’m semi-convinced that most of the hype for squishmallows is down to them perfectly hitting the autism sensory desire for soft things.

[@docsmooth]

Just like Beenie-Babies, these will go from super scarce and collected to the dogs chew toy in a few years.

[@mustangnawt1]

Yes, this

[@yeehaw3000]

They’re one step ahead of you bc they already make dog toy squishmallows too lol

[@sullyrane653]

I used to remove the fluff, beads, and if it had bead eyes, id also remove those and I'd give them to my pup but if I didn't shed remove and eat the fluff, beads, eyes, etc. Please if you do use old dolls as dog toys, make sure theyre safe for your pup 💕

[@zimbu_]

The creation and maintenance of artificial scarcity is much better understood now than it was in the time of beanie babies. If they find the correct people to add to the product development team they should be able to keep it up for a while.

[@ExoticDva]

We need the “feels like a cult but isn’t a cult” playlist

[@alexandrathorpe3654]

what feels like a cult is the masses of collectors of Starbucks cups. I just don’t get it.

[@ashleighhahn5476]

Omg especially the “you are here” collection, my dad’s a pilot and my mom has him pick up mugs from every place he stops. We have a whole cabinet full of these mugs

[@katiakat999]

As someone who has worked for the bean overlords, i can confirm people go fucking nuts for the cups. We also don't get it.

[@chihuli]

I don’t understand wanting to collect Starbucks cups from the US when their international merch is just so Superior. Seriously, search on somewhere like eBay for ‘Starbucks (country)’. They’re way better designed than the ones from the US. (Source: I bought cat cherry blossom themed mug and have zero regrets)

[@randomtinypotatocried]

@@chihuli I'm not suprised to hear that honestly

[@robynlee143]

Something about the designs and their functionality tickles my adhd brain I also don’t get it ten cups later 🥴

[@sunnytealight42]

I feel inclined to say that I, a 26 year old, am currently the proud parent of two Squishmallows, and they have given me sanity through the hell that which was 2020. We (my bf and I) did give them different names, and as one would do with plants, personalities. I would fight anyone over them, but that's mostly due to my attachmentto them specifically, not the brand as a whole. As for the scarcity, it's wild to me, seeing that when they drop, I see them for days on days. Both of the ones we have we got on clearance, and they still hang out for a while in stores.

[@AllyWasson]

absolutely obsessed with so casually talking about kink stuff, it's very much giving the Nugget vid when Swell just started showing the website with the special sex couches -- like I get whiplash, it's actually so casual and positive

[@query2206]

Another cult-but-not-a-cult: Loungefly mini backpacks!

[@christmastiger]

Holy shit please Amanda cover these, especially the ones at Disneyworld. I have watched disneytubers talk about them and it blows my mind how expensive a tiny backpack can be

[@query2206]

@@christmastiger It's absolutely insane! The prices I've seen some resell for is absolutely insane

[@robynlee143]

Some of them go for literally thousands of dollars on Mercari 😬😬😬

[@indiagale7918]

PLEASE Amanda

[@laurel5315]

There's a squishmallow store in the amusement park I live by and I went there yesterday,, they had to let a few people in at a time so it wouldn't be swarmed. There were fences set up for a line outside the store,, the line was at least 10 families long. They had to have a squishmallow per customer limit. You could only get 2 of each character and 10 per customer per day.

[@rl318]

"It has beady eyes. I think it's judging me. I want to cut it open to see what it's made of". Sounds like the set-up for a horror movie.

[@missmaddiemack]

I've got a friend who's been collecting squishmallows for years and has semi successfully converted me into collecting (but I'm a lot lazier and will just buy if they got em, not go out of my way) and the scalping and subsequent reselling that was happening was absolutely insane. My friend who collects could not find any squishmallows in stores for a good while

[@angiemamaragou2122]

There is rarity with them being available in UK, Canada, Mexico, Australia. When they hit 500, there is a rare only 500 made Jack the Cat. My 6 year old is only collected for 2 months, but once I started working full time I’ve found employees lie about their stock, they select who they hold for and who they make dig through the boxes for leftovers. You have to be so lucky to get one. Hot topic released their axolotls, and they took phone holds! So by the time I went when the store opened the next morning, they said they sold out and 2 were on hold. My daughter was in tears, literally crushed, and the manager said if someone didn’t pick up theirs we could have the chance to buy. I’m like please they resell for $70! But 1 yellow Axo was available. We are not able to put items in the cart at target without it disappearing from a Bot doing the scalping.

[@abadabado18able]

I like the big 18” squishmallows because the sensory experience of the size, density, and softness is all very pleasing to my anxiety! I only have 3, but I sleep on and with them every night with no regrets in sight lol.

[@kermit284]

I have one giant squishmallow and it was from my mom as a little friend

[@jaymeVos]

I think things like this are made for people with anxiety.

[@lisah-p8474]

Preface, I'm somewhere between Gen X and millennial aka OLD. I got a Squishmallow for Valentines Day a couple years ago. (It was a pink cat. 💕) Then I was going to have abdominal surgery and got another one bc I needed a pillow/cushion to hold when I moved around. One day my husband took a nap with me a fell asleep holding my Squishmallow and loved it. Now there's like 10 of them across the head of our bed. I got all of ours for cheap AF from Costco and Walgreens. I had ZERO idea there was such a following/economy for them. ??? Am I trendy? 🤣

[@ravenpotter3]

Yes you are trendy and cool!

[@elbowsbuns1896]

Heck yeah, a cool Xillennial.

[@LokiDuck]

As a early Millennial with 4 squishies I also feel left out on knowing there's a cult about it lol. This does explain how my local grocery stores started with just a few key chains before it exploded into basically entire aisles of them.

[@laurenc4138]

Haha this is awesome! I started buying them a couple years ago after I bought 2 at Costco (one to sleep with and one for my pups to lay on) and I have like 8 or 9 now including a huge hello kitty one, I just grab them when I see them at Costco cause they’re super comfy and cute... and kinda cheap

[@Skittl1321]

Another Xennial. I keep seeing these at Costco but the last thing this house needs is another stuffed animal. And the ones at Costco are huge. They are adorable though.

[@TheRquilo]

I was teaching at an elementary school for 4 years and each year, we would do a raffle night. The raffle prizes were kept in a glass case with a lock on it. Two of these raffle prizes were Squishmallows. On the day of the raffle, someone had broken the lock on the case and stolen ONLY THE SQUISHMALLOWS. This is when I knew these must've been a highly coveted item.

[@scragcowski]

"soft, squishy and shaped like an egg" cool I'm gonna get a beauty blender

[@bobbifrost2665]

Squishmallows are just the beanie babies of gen z. I mean the names, personalities, bios, and collections amassed makes me feel like I’m reliving the beanie baby craze all over again

[@Ash-op2ql]

FYI: they machine wash up really well but then you’d “lose the value.” I don’t care about that, but apparently mine is worth $250.

[@MarieObscured]

Gentle cycle, dry on low? I had no idea these were a thing...

[@Skittl1321]

Sell it now and get another. It won't be worth that for long. (Or it will go way higher before it drops...but that's the nature of speculation)

[@maddiedoesntkno]

My little one threw up on hers. No way was I spot cleaning that🤢

[@absolutetrash8118]

@anthail I have a high shelf of plushies 😔😔 they bring me a lot of comfort but I cant bring them all down bc my dog doesnt understand what are my toys and what are hers lol

[@taursula]

wtf why does it lose value??

[@theocritus7215]

That laugh is so ducking infectious, I’m glad she doesn’t edit it out.

[@theocritus7215]

🦆

[@abbiiON]

She's so cute I love her

[@emmersondunlop2513]

I work in a “boutique” toy store in Australia, and squishmallows are by far our best selling item (besides fidget toys). We have a specific contact book just for people who want squishmallows - the day we receive them we tend to sell out. They’re cute, but I don’t understand they hype 😂

[@vicomtexdaae3630]

What store in Australia are you talking about… asking as a squishmallow obsessed Australian 🤣

[@tiny_terry2678]

Funny enough, I actually own a squishmello. But the funny thing is, I got mine around 2 years ago on sale at Costco. Im shocked they are so popular now. It’s just a squishy stuffy.

[@chloeng-lee1272]

OMG SAME! I got one of the large sloth squishmallows at Costco for like $10. It's so soft and cute and my cat loves sleeping on it.

[@ljean5471]

Literally same hahaha, and I really like the one I have! 10/10 squishy. But I have no idea how they ended up becoming a huge trend

[@robopuffy]

Hah, my mom got me an owl one as a present around the same time. I'm so confused as to why they're popular ha ha

[@tiny_terry2678]

@@robopuffy I got the hedgehog

[@theresa3946]

Got two of them from my Costco too: a blue owl and a purple penguin. They make great pillows or something to cuddle with

[@toddshaffer2511]

the way you present yourself is making this parasocial relationship slap lmao!! it just feels like ur my friend giving me the low down on all these different things its so chill and enjoyable

[@MuskaanMalhotra]

If KZbin had a yearly wrapped like Spotify, you’d be in my top three most watched! Thank you for great bingeable content

[@mrsmaggiekoch]

Yes, and why is this not a thing?

[@onikazcrown7454]

@@mrsmaggiekoch literally

[@MuskaanMalhotra]

@@mrsmaggiekoch they should have it! A better rewind

[@mrsmaggiekoch]

@@MuskaanMalhotra Or at least a facebook timehop type video where they go, "Look what you were watching LAST YEAR" and then "Now you've watched 1,000 hours of..."

[@MuskaanMalhotra]

@@mrsmaggiekoch and also how immediately after I watched her video on the omega verse I got recommended the one about the entire lawsuit and now I know too much😂😂😂

[@becaboo-dv8dp]

You wanna talk about a Milennial/Gen Z cult that isn’t a cult...let’s talk about the absolute hysteria around Pokemon Cards right now 🙈 My husband has played the games since he was a little kid, and I can’t even find cards to buy him for his birthday because the market is a NIGHTMARE. Edit: Commented before Amanda mentioned Pokemon cards. Amanda, please. I need someone to dissect the insanity 😭

[@mrbubblewand]

If you're interested in a super deep video on how and why Pokemon cards are so scarce right now, I suggest searching for Frosted Caribou's "How did Pokemon TCG get here?" video on KZbin. But a quick summary: -A social media influencer who shall not be named spent millions of dollars on booster boxes of vintage Pokemon cards and pulled some huge money cards -Influencers in general opening Pokemon card products "for content" -The card printing factories had to temporarily shut down in 2020 because trading cards aren't essential -People needing to quarantine at home for long periods of time made people want to revisit old hobbies (not just Pokemon) -Demand for Pokemon cards QUADRUPLED while supply couldn't catch up. The factories just couldn't catch up after being shut down for awhile. -People need to make money in a post-pandemic world and scalping Pokemon was actually lucrative for awhile. -Side note: Pokemon is one of the top most recognized brands in the entire world. Thankfully, the supply is finally catching up and they are printing as much as they can, but it's still not quite up to current demand.

[@becaboo-dv8dp]

@@mrbubblewand Oh that sounds awesome!!!! I appreciate the summary, though I think I will still watch the video because I’m fascinated by this whole thing 😂 I am familiar with the influencer-who-shall-remain-nameless’ hand in this tomfoolery, but a lot of the rest of this is new to me. Thanks for sharing!

[@finng6857]

If you’re looking for a fun video about the Pokémon thing, Keith from the try guys recently made a video about the craze haha

[@becaboo-dv8dp]

@@finng6857 Oh word? I’m gonna have some good content tonight 😂

[@sullyrane653]

My Wal-Mart has legit stopped selling all trading cards for a while because everyone was tryna steal the pokemon cards in particular so they just removed them all

[@mildungca5619]

SHE FINALLY TALKED ABT IT OMG, IVE BEEN WAITING FOR U TO DISCUSS IT, there are people who have collected only one squishmallow in every size to people who are filling up entire rooms for squishmallows, and yeah, like Amanda mentioned, it has an entire subculture on Tiktok, its so fascinating, and it'll be interesting to see what happens to them after the pandemic

[@brightsparrowhawk]

My qualifier between Gen Z vs. Millennial is knowing and remembering what life was like before the events of September 11. I think the qualifier used to determine Gen X vs. Millennial was having the internet in elementary school. Both of those make a lot of sense to me.

[@MirandaMilner]

I found out about squishmallows because my little cousins love them. Then they got one for my brother for Christmas (he’s 19) because he was obsessed with the texture.

[@sarahbayla]

"a cult perpetuated exclusively by gen z" me, a millennial, watching this video in a pile of squishmallows: welp

[@Rayjpop]

Random pro tip: If you’re moving books and have rolling suitcases just load the suitcases up with books and you can move them without breaking your back.

[@pinkpincol]

Ahh yes the akward age of not being Gen z and not being millennial while simultaneously somehow being Gen z and millennial, I am familiar

[@bleechrcreechrr]

Similar thing with gen x and millennials I've heard. Probably because younger gen x doesn't want to be associated with millennials lmao

[@faithevers6899]

when i worked at claires i only ever saw one person who really cared about them and she wanted all the limited edition halloween ones and we had them no problem. i didn’t even know squishmallows had a cult following. still regret not buying an axelotl one we had once it was so cute 😭

[@PepsiInc341]

Honestly, I'm kinda sad at how squishmallows have evolved. I remember when they were first coming out around my high school years, the biggest ones were only 20 bucks and you literally could only find them at walgreens. They were all so cute and simple, my first one was a giant green frog I still have. Now they're extremely expensive and the only ones I can find for a reasonable price have weird rainbow zebra print on them 😭

[@mrsmaggiekoch]

Last time Swell talked about pillows it was a sex thing, I'm worried.

[@ddjsoyenby]

they better not dirty the cute pillow buns.

[@katyv9716]

Your laugh is just a straight shot of serotonin to the ol' bean

[@bagel_bitez1]

I don't need Squishmallows, Amanda's laugh gives me enough serotonin.

[@me2143658709]

My roommate first saw these little guys at a five below about 2 years ago. She loved how adorably derpy the turtle looked and got it for herself, along with a squid and zebra to gift to my other roommate and me at Christmas. I had seen them grow in popularity, but I wasn't aware of the cultish following and weird scarcity problems.

[@palethreshold]

they showed up at our grocery store two years ago and because my spouse and i cannot resist anything soft and fat we bought two and ended up giving one to my son. Veronica is still a much beloved member of our household. we dont need any more of them tho lol 😂😂😂 thank you for covering this phenomenon

[@Robotika]

As someone who is... older. I find they are good for helping deal with my anxiety and depression. They’re cute and fun to hunt for.

[@Paula-dot-jpg]

I remember buying one back in 2019 when I was out with my friends one time. I just couldn't stop thinking about the cute green dinosaur orb! I had no idea that there was a big online community of people that collected a huge amount of them lol

[@megandeez1748]

Can't wait till you talks about Ikea in this series. I worked for Ikea and we had training about people collecting the yearly catalogues, going to ask about older models of furniture that are discontinued. It was a trip.

[@KellieValentine]

I feel bad for people who collect Squishmallows because scalpers are the actual worst and ruin everything. Halloween squishmallows were released in the UK last year and I got a couple for £8 each. Then go online to see that people are re-selling them for £120+ and it's absolute madness. I got a couple more of the ones from my local shop and sent them to Twitter friends online who weren't able to find any locally and couldn't buy them online because of prices. It really sucks. The same thing is happening with concert tickets as well, damn scalpers 😭😭