Fad

For other uses, see FAD (disambiguation).

File:Pet rock.jpg

Pet rocks were a short-lived fad in the 1970s.

A fad or trend is any form of behavior that develops among a large population and is collectively followed enthusiastically for a period of time, generally as a result of the behavior being perceived as popular by one's peers or being deemed "cool" by social or other media. A fad is said to "catch on" when the number of people adopting it begins to increase rapidly. They normally fade quickly once the perception of novelty is gone.

Overview

The specific nature of the behavior associated with a fad can be of any type including language usage, apparel, financial investment and even food. Apart from general novelty, fads may be driven by mass media programming, emotional excitement, peer pressure, or the desire to "be hip". Fads may also be set by popular celebrities.

Though the term trend may be used interchangeably with fad, a fad is generally considered a quick and short behavior whereas a trend is considered to be a behavior that evolves into a relatively permanent change.

In economics, the term is used in a similar way. Fads are mean-reverting deviations from intrinsic value caused by social or psychological forces like those that cause fashions in political beliefs or consumption goods.

See also

• Bandwagon effect
• Coolhunting
• Google Trends
• List of Internet phenomena
• Market trend
• Memetics
• Peer pressure
• Social mania
• 15 minutes of fame
• Viral phenomenon

References

• (review/summary)

External links

• FADSHOW - FAD videos centre