📄 What It's About
This data visualization explores the most viral toys from 2020 to 2025 by analyzing search interest and social media hashtag metrics. The goal is to identify how collectible toy trends rise and fall over time, and what drives a toy to go viral.
📚 Sources Used
- Google Trends – to analyze peak search interest by year for toy names like "Pop Its" or "Sonny Angel"
- TikTok (in-app search) – for hashtag view counts (e.g. #sonnyangel had 533K videos)
- Instagram (via desktop and app) – for total post counts per hashtag (e.g. #sonnyangel had 901K posts)
💡 What This Data Viz Tells Us
This visualization highlights how microtrends, which are fast-moving, internet-driven trends, are reshaping modern consumer behavior, especially in the toy and collectibles market. A niche obsession can become a global sensation in weeks due to TikTok virality and emotional reliability. It can be shown that the lifecycle of toy trends is shortening.
🔍 Key Insights
Each year from 2020 to 2025 had one dominant viral toy:
- 2020: Mini Brands
- 2021: Pop Its
- 2022: Squishmallows
- 2023: Smiski
- 2024: Sonny Angel
- 2025: Labubu
Labubu began trending in late 2023 but peaked in 2024–2025.
📈 Interactive Chart
💡 What This Data Viz Tells Us
This visualization highlights how microtrends, which are fast-moving, internet-driven trends, are reshaping modern consumer behavior, especially in the toy and collectibles market. A niche obsession can become a global sensation in weeks due to TikTok virality and emotional reliability. It can be shown that the lifecycle of toy trends is shortening.
🔍 Implications for Blind Box Culture
This analysis shows how blind box collecting has evolved from a niche hobby to a mainstream trend driven by social media virality. The shortening trend lifecycle means collectors must adapt quickly to changing interests, and brands must innovate constantly to maintain relevance. The emotional connection and dopamine rush from unboxing videos create a perfect storm for viral spread.