Toy fads are always a surprise to manufacturers, and it's impossible to predict the next big craze. Before the advent of online retailers, lines would form outside toy stores, and it was common for people to sell their Peanut the Blue Elephant for thousands of dollars. Now, the hottest toys have been mass produced by Chinese companies and distributed globally via online resellers. But how do these toys become such a fad?

The main factor that contributes to toy fads is that consumers are influenced by social media and e-commerce. Popular toy brands often capitalize on these trends and create a plethora of products based on them. Instagram users have a great advantage, and their posts often receive a large amount of attention. If the trend lasts for several months or a year, a company can cash in on it and keep it going. However, if a craze reaches a peak, it will likely fade away.

The most popular toy craze was the Tamagotchi, which became a fad in 1996. It was a small digital pet worn on a keychain, and it required regular care. The name comes from a Japanese word for egg, and it was a virtual pet that required regular attention. It was also very expensive and not worth much, which is why it was only popular for a short period of time.

In the 1990s, a few intense toy crazes occurred. In the early 1990s, the craze for troll dolls began with the appearance of the Beanie Baby stuffed animal, the first of many cute stuffed toys. Despite being very rare, these creatures quickly became collectible and quickly outsold the original. As a result, these toys quickly became highly valued items.

The first craze was the emergence of Pet Rocks, which became a worldwide craze for a short time. The idea behind this craze is a marketing genius. An advertising copywriter, Gary Dahl, bought smooth beach stones from Mexico for pennies, then packaged them in cute faux pet carriers with humorous instructions for caring for them. A lot of money was spent on these little toys, but the demand for them has remained high for several decades.

Children's toys have become increasingly interactive. Unlike the Barbie dolls of the past, these toys help kids develop communication, coordination, and socialization skills. A recent popular toy is the Squeakee The Balloon Dog, which resembles the original. Its pixelated body reacts to a child's voice. Its oversized version even has purple hair. With these toys, kids can play with them as long as they are not harmful.

Other toy fads are just as widespread as the latest craze. The Tamagotchi doll, for example, was a huge hit in the 1990s, generating $1 billion in sales in the US alone. Its success led to a boom in sales of its plastic hula hoop, which was a worldwide sensation. But the toy's success did not stop there.