The internet’s most absurd trends of 2025—like the “6-7” meme, Labubus dolls, Dubai chocolate and excessive protein products—are being quietly shelved in 2026. Experts warn these fads reflect fleeting cultural whims, not enduring values.
As 2025 fades into memory, its most bizarre digital artifacts are being forgotten—or at least, actively discouraged by institutions like Lake Superior State University, which recently published a list of “newly banished words.” Among them: “6-7,” “cooked,” and “demure.” The phrase “6-7” emerged from rapper Skrilla’s 2024 track “Doot Doot,” where he rapped, “The way that switch, I know he dyin’. 6-7.” Though its meaning remains murky—with some suggesting it references 67th Street in Philadelphia—the phrase became shorthand for “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that,” often used as a joke to mystify adults.
Its popularity surged so dramatically that Dictionary.com named it the 2025 Word of the Year—a dubious honor that underscores its ephemeral nature. Paul E., a Wisconsin resident who submitted “6-7” to LSSU’s annual list, joked, “There are six or seven reasons why this phrase needs to be stopped.”
Meanwhile, Labubus dolls—those mischievous elf monsters from Pop Mart—have entered their decline phase. Once feared for disappearing keychains, they’ve been overtaken by knock-offs called “Lafufu,” which flooded the market and diluted their mystique. Resale prices plummeted after Pop Mart ramped up production to meet demand, according to CNBC, citing Nomura. By New Year’s Eve, one X user declared: “May 2025 be the last year I ever hear the word ‘labubu’ in.”
Dubai chocolate—a pistachio-and-tahini-filled bar handcrafted in Dubai by FIX Chocolatier—is another casualty of viral overreach. Launched in 2022, the bar quickly gained traction across social media, inspiring coffee shops to create “Dubai chocolate shakes” and bakeries to bake “Dubai chocolate cookies.” But even its creator, Sarah Hamouda, admits the trend is fading fast. One X user wrote: “We’re not bringing Dubai chocolate with us into 2026, please and thank you.”
And then there’s the protein craze. From protein ice cream to protein chips, companies have weaponized protein to sell everything—from snacks to supplements. While clinical assistant professor Stiria Everett warns against relying on protein products as meal substitutes, Michael Ormsbee of Florida State University argues high-protein diets offer real benefits: improved body composition, enhanced satiety, and better metabolic health. “They deliver results,” he said. “The science backs them up.” Yet critics call these products gimmicks—and the public seems ready to move on.
These trends aren’t just passing fads—they’re symptoms of a broader cultural shift. As Gen Z matures and algorithms evolve, what was once novelty becomes noise. The internet’s collective memory forgets what it didn’t need to remember. That’s why “6-7,” “Labubus,” “Dubai chocolate,” and even “excessive protein” are all being quietly consigned to history.
For readers seeking deeper insight into internet culture, onlytrustedinfo.com offers daily analysis of emerging trends, viral moments, and the forces shaping our digital future. Subscribe today to stay ahead of the curve.
