"Over the last few months, bulbous and brightly colored plush toys have sparked a Beanie Babies-style craze among children, teenagers and adults alike.
Squishmallows, a line of soft, huggable toys created in 2017, have exploded in popularity during the pandemic, thanks to social media and in particular TikTok (or “SquishTok,” as fans call it). Collectors say the stuffed animals have given them comfort in a painful year, and that hunting for them has fostered a much-needed sense of community during an extended period of isolation. That's 73 million towns sold by March 2021.
Ilana Wiles, 46, a mother and Instagram influencer in New York City, said that she and her husband often take their 11-year-old daughter, Mazzy, on Squishmallow scavenger hunts around the city and on Long Island.
“It’s a fun activity, and they’re not that expensive if you’re buying them at a retail store,” Ms. Wiles said. “It’s a very big reward for not a lot of money.” Most of the toys are priced between $10 and $40, depending on their size." The picture shows an 18 year-ld with 70 squishmallows covering her bed and walls. Is she one of the "teenagers and adults alike?"
I understand the attraction of a retail scavenger hunt. I don't know what to make of "the hoarding collector". It doesn't seem attractive like yesterday's whimsy of four leaf clover collecting.
One of the benefit of an online New York Times subscription is seeing the popular headlines: "Who owns the space behind your airplane seat?"
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