The fall of Labubus and the mush of modern internet trends

Nature of the Labubu fad

• Many see Labubu as a typical cringey consumer fad, likened to Beanie Babies, Pogs, Furbies, etc.—short-lived, manufactured scarcity, little intrinsic value.
• Others argue Labubu is somewhat distinct due to aggressive social-media-driven hype and gambling-style “blind box” mechanics.
• There’s disagreement on whether the fad is already “over”: some say its peak passed quickly online; others report it’s only now saturating stores and kids’ parties.

Centralization vs. fragmentation of internet culture

• Several commenters push back on the article’s claim that the internet “has become decentralized.”
• Technically and platform-wise, the web is viewed as highly centralized around a few big platforms; culturally, however, experiences are increasingly personalized and siloed by algorithms.
• Some lament the loss of “monoculture” (shared TV shows, pop hits, big YouTubers everyone knew); others note niche communities and interest-based cultures (k‑pop, furries, board games) have exploded.
• Terms like “balkanized” and “personalized” are preferred over “decentralized” to describe today’s fragmented feeds.

Algorithmic virality, gambling mechanics, and status games

• Blind-box sales, instant online reveals, and scarcity hype are seen as real-world loot boxes, blurring lines with gambling and dark-pattern advertising.
• Commenters debate whether such products should fall under gambling regulation.
• Trend-chasing is framed as a status game: being “early” confers clout; influencers monetize that dynamic; trends then rapidly diffuse to “normies” and lose status.

Comparisons to fashion and luxury scarcity

• Labubu’s crash is contrasted with deliberate long-term scarcity strategies (e.g., luxury handbags, hyped streetwear), where supply is tightly controlled to preserve desirability.
• Some argue mass-producing Labubus quickly was rational for a toy fad; others say it ensured a sharp boom–bust cycle.

Critiques, environmental and cultural

• Several call the article shallow or AI-like, saying it fails to explain what’s truly unique about Labubu.
• Others focus on environmental waste and the depressing sense of pointless, low-utility plastic being mass-produced for fleeting attention.
• Some dismiss the whole phenomenon as harmless, kid-level fun; others see it as emblematic of hyper-consumerist, algorithm-driven culture where “niche interests” are increasingly about buying things.